I have created a custom dictionary in mobi-format. It works on Kindle Paperwhite, but when adding it to Kindle for PC or Mac, it appears like a normal e-book. I can not look up any words within it from other books like I can when using Kindle Paperwhite. Obviously this is just a hack until Amazon will (hopefully) add the use of custom dictionaries to their PC, Mac or Cloud reader application. But until then it’s certainly a way to get quick translations. Let me know in the comments what you think. How To Add Support For More Languages. Long-press the book, select Add To Collection from the pop-up window, then check the box next to the appropriate Collection. You can also create and add to Collections on the Kindle app for PC.
If English is not your primary language, but if you want to read in it as much as you can, you will find this simple tip useful. The trick is really fast and is using the feature to look up reference in Google web search. You can translate words in Kindle app (iOS, Android, other platforms, too), but also in other e-reading applications that offer Google lookup.
“Sure,” you can say, “Why not using a built-in dictionary?” I use a dictionary by default, but sometimes a description in English is too difficult for me, and I can’t figure out a proper Polish word. In such cases ability to quickly translate this word to a mother tongue would solve the problem.
There are lots of translating apps for iOS, Android and any other mobile operating system. The problem is that sometimes it’s a couple of taps too far to use them. You need to switch to another application, type a word again (or paste it, if there was an option to copy it in the e-reading app). Then you have to switch back to the e-reading app.
How to quickly translate words in Kindle app
1. When you find a word you want to translate, highlight it, and at the bottom of the explanation window, tap on a Google link.
You’ll see a Google search page in an inline browser:
2. Now, here comes the trick. In a search box add two words that tell Google to find a translation. The phrase is “to Polish”, or “to Italian”, or “to Portuguese”, etc. Please note that it should be stated in English, not in your mother tongue. The other phrase that also does the job is “in Polish”, “in Italian”, etc.
Tap on Search button and you’ll see a translation as on a screenshot below:
I told you it’s gonna be quick. As you see, you don’t have to go to a special Google Translate page. It’s just a matter of typing a few words. If you want to be even quicker in iOS, you can add the phrase (like in my case “to Polish”) to shortcuts. To do that, open Settings, then Keyboard, then scroll down to bottom and tap on Add New Shortcut.
Kindle app lets find a Google reference in an inline browser, so to close the search you just have to tap on Done button in the top right corner. I tested the Google trick in the iBooks, Kobo, and Bluefire Reader apps and it also work, but in the first two apps, the Define feature redirects to Safari, so you’ll need to go back to the e-reading app every time after the translation is being performed.
A good thing about Google Translate is that you don’t have to download to Kindle app the dictionary in other language (for instance a German one) if you want to look up for a word in German language. Google detects the original language, so that you can translate words from any language to any language.
In general, I’m amazed with how good is Google Translate. Combined with a very well designed and fast mobile interface it can be a solution to most of the translation tasks you have on a tablet or smartphone. No extra apps needed.
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Recently I was starting to learn Spanish myself, my favorite way to learn a foreign language is to find book written in simple sentences for reading. With a Kindle, it becomes even graceful, the built-in dictionary saves me lots of time and space.
Amazon doesn't provide me a built-in Spanish-English dictionary, and I only found 2 available Spanish-English dictionaries in Kindle Store, but the ratings are below average. I do not want to waste money on a useless dictionary, so I begin to dig my Kindle resource.
In my Kindle library, I saw a book called Real Academia Española el Diccionario de la lengua española, this is a spanish dictionary, isn't it? But what the heck Amazon doesn't allow me to download it. I click the 'actions' button but can't see the 'Deliver to...' option, and login my Kindle for PC I also can't see it in my 'Archived Items' section.
Obviously I have to find a way out myself. After some searches on the internet, I finally got a free and working Spanish to English dictionary for Kindle, it is built by Dave Slusher, he DIYed this Kindle dictionary himself by RUBY scripts.
But here comes another setback, the dictionary is created in 2010 and for Kindle 2, which only uses one dictionary at a time. Therefore I can't use it because I need dictionaries for other languages also.
Then I find Mac Sturm modified the dictionary to make it working on K4 and later models, and click the button below you can download it. Notice: You can download and use for totally free and legit under Creative Commons license: BY-NC-SA.
And I guess some people may also need the English to Spanish dictionary, I've also find a free one for you.
For how to add a dictionary to Kindle, please read this guide: https://www.epubor.com/how-to-change-or-add-dictionary-to-kindle.html
The first dictionary file is .prc format, if you want a .mobi file, you can use freeware Calibre to transform it into .mobi for free.
If you have any other valid option, please share with us by comment.
And if the files in this post help you reading Spanish books better, click the social buttons to help us spread wider is appreciated.
Adding Dictionary Kindle For Macbook Pro
Jonny Greenwood joined Epubor since 2011, loves everything about eBooks and eReaders. He seeks the methods to read eBooks more freely and wants to share all he has got with you.