Add Languages to Mac Dictionary App: Step-by-Step

This guide shows you how to add extra languages to the built-in Dictionary app on macOS, so you can look up words in French, Spanish, German, Japanese, and many others right from your Mac. You’ll need an internet connection to download the dictionaries, but no other tools or software.

What You’ll Need

• A Mac running macOS 10.15 (Catalina) or later (the steps are nearly identical on older versions).
• An internet connection to download dictionary files.
• Enough free disk space (each dictionary is a few hundred megabytes at most).

Step-by-Step

1. Open the Dictionary app. Click the Finder icon in the Dock, then go to Applications and double-click Dictionary. Alternatively, press Command (⌘) + Space to open Spotlight, type “Dictionary,” and press Return.
2. Open Dictionary settings. In the menu bar at the top of the screen, click Dictionary and then Settings (or Preferences on older macOS versions). A window titled “Dictionary” will appear.
3. Browse the dictionary list. In the settings window, you’ll see a list of available dictionaries. Dictionaries that are already installed have a checkmark next to them. Those without a checkmark are either not downloaded or not enabled.
4. Check the languages you want to add. Click the checkbox next to each dictionary you want to install. For example, to add French, check French – France or French – Canada. To add multiple languages, check multiple boxes.
5. Wait for the download. When you check a dictionary that isn’t installed yet, macOS will start downloading it automatically. You’ll see a progress indicator (a spinning gear or a progress bar) next to the dictionary name. The download time depends on your internet speed and the dictionary size.
6. Enable the dictionary after download. Once the download finishes, the checkbox remains checked, and the dictionary is now active. If you unchecked it during download, re-check it to enable it.
7. Close settings and test. Close the settings window. Now open the Dictionary app again (or just use the Look Up feature) and try looking up a word in the new language. For example, type “bonjour” and you should see the French definition.
8. Use Look Up anywhere. You can also use the new dictionary in other apps. Select a word in any app (like Safari or Mail), right-click, and choose Look Up. The dictionary results will include the new language if the word is recognized.

Common Mistakes

• Forgetting to check the box after download: Sometimes the download completes but the checkbox gets unchecked automatically (especially if you interrupted the process). Make sure the checkbox is checked for the dictionary you want to active.
• Confusing “dictionary” with “language” in system settings: This is about the Dictionary app, not the macOS system language. Adding a dictionary does not change your Mac’s interface language.
• Looking for a “Download” button: There is no separate download button. Simply checking the box triggers the download. If you don’t see a checkmark, click the box once.
• Assuming all languages are available: The list includes major world languages, but not every dialect or minority language. If you don’t see a language, it’s not available from Apple.

Tips

• Prioritize the order: In the Dictionary settings, you can drag dictionaries up or down to set the order they appear in results. For example, if you want the French definition to appear before the English one, drag the French dictionary above the English one.
• Use the search field: In the Dictionary app, the search bar at the top lets you type a word and see results from all enabled dictionaries. You can also click on a specific dictionary name in the results to see its full entry.
• Check the “Look Up” shortcut: You can set a keyboard shortcut for Look Up in System Settings > Keyboard > Shortcuts > App Shortcuts, but the default is usually Control-Command-D (or just three-finger tap on a trackpad).
• Remove dictionaries you don’t need: To free up space, uncheck the box for a dictionary you no longer want. macOS will remove the downloaded files after a short delay.

Troubleshooting

Dictionary doesn’t download: If the progress indicator spins forever or the download fails, try the following:

• Check your internet connection and try again.
• Restart the Dictionary app (quit it completely with Command+Q and reopen).
• Restart your Mac. This often clears temporary network issues.
• Go to System Settings > General > Software Update and make sure your Mac is up to date. Sometimes a system update fixes download issues.

Dictionary is downloaded but not showing results:

• Make sure the checkbox is checked in Dictionary settings.
• Try looking up a word that definitely exists in that language (e.g., “hola” for Spanish).
• If the word is not recognized, the dictionary might not be the right variant (e.g., you downloaded French – Canada but the word is more common in France). Try adding another variant.

Look Up doesn’t show the dictionary:

• Look Up uses the same dictionaries as the Dictionary app. If you just added a dictionary, force quit the app you’re using (like Safari) and reopen it.
• Check that the dictionary is enabled in Dictionary settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I add a language that isn’t in the list?
A: No, the Dictionary app only supports the languages Apple provides. For other languages, you’d need third-party apps or online dictionaries.

Q: How much space do dictionaries take?
A: Each dictionary is typically between 50 MB and 300 MB. You can see the size in the Dictionary settings window (it shows “Downloading…” or the size once installed).

Q: Will adding a dictionary change my Mac’s language?
A: No, it only adds dictionary content. The system language remains whatever you set in System Settings.

Q: Can I use the dictionary offline?
A: Yes, once downloaded, dictionaries work offline. The Look Up feature also works offline for those languages.

Q: How do I remove a dictionary?
A: Uncheck the box in Dictionary settings. macOS will delete the files after a few seconds.

Q: Why don’t I see the “Settings” option in the Dictionary menu?
A: On older macOS versions (before Catalina), it’s called “Preferences.” The shortcut is Command+, (comma).

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