Dictionary for Android. Russian explanatory dictionary

This guide will cover dictionaries and translators for Android. By the way, this topic was touched upon in. The aspects of the review are:

• Language support. It is important that at least two languages ​​are supported: Russian and English - natively or by adding dictionaries.
• Offline and online functions. First of all, offline opportunities are of interest, although online ones may also be present, which will be mentioned.
• Working with a dictionary: connection, speech synthesis or support for audio recordings, transcription.
• Search: morphology accounting, inaccurate search, search speed.
• Additional features: phrasebook, contextual translation, integration with other applications.

Reviewers:

• Google translate
• GoldenDict
• Fora Dictionary
• ColorDict
• "Offline dictionaries"

Google translate

In the latest versions of the official Google Translate client, the greatest attention is paid to offline translation. Therefore, now the application can be compared with other offline dictionaries, according to the same criteria.

First, about offline features. Google Translate offers a choice of 80 languages ​​connected through the settings: just select the desired dictionary from the list.

Google Translate is the least "academic", it differs from the traditional Android dictionary both in its interface and in the form of results. When translating a term, the transcription is not displayed, for irregular verbs form is not specified, other reference Information is also missing. The division into parts of speech is made, but not always (the principle of deriving a dictionary remained unclear).

Google Translate is not least a user-friendly interface. It looks optimally in a mobile version, less advantageous - in. Easy navigation, nice animation. True, there is one flaw: when switching from portrait to landscape mode, only translation is displayed, which, in fact, is a useless distribution of space.

Additional conveniences are noted when working with dictionaries. When translating, voice acting is available (online function). You can translate whole combinations, but due to the limited vocabulary, the implementation of this function is significantly inferior to the online version.

A number of functions are activated when connected to the Internet: text recognition, audio, handwriting. These features are experimental, in development - although, in fact, they are well implemented. On the one hand, in field conditions» Recognition is far from perfect. On the other hand, Google Translate is able to translate simple and clear phrases. As a result, if the text or sound is not noisy, the decoding justifies itself.

Probably, the speech recognition function can be considered as a good tool for practicing pronunciation. It is still too early to count on Google Translate as an assistant in a “live” conversation with a foreigner. The role of translation, in the case of the above functions, may fade into the background, but the recognition results cannot be saved: export to Google Translate is not provided.

Phrasebook is another tool that needs to be mentioned. It syncs with online connected devices Google account, allowing you to keep frequently used words with translation at hand.

Summary. Google Translate would properly be called a translator with dictionary features available offline. Convenient and fast interface, wide choice of language components, easy handling of dictionaries. The online recognition functions are also notable.

[+] Unique features
[+] Convenient and responsive interface
[+] Support for 80 languages

GoldenDict

Some dictionaries for Android provide only a shell, and in this case you need to add the actual dictionaries yourself. GoldenDict is just such a solution. On the one hand, it is inconvenient that you need to perform additional actions and waste time searching for dictionaries. The good news is that you can add only the specialized dictionaries you need. The shell is not only extremely easy to set up, but also versatile. The following types of dictionaries are supported: Lingvo, Babylon, MultiTran, StarDict, Lingoes and Dictd.

After being added to the file system, dictionaries need to be indexed to be included in the search. Dictionaries of other installed programs can be added; as a rule, GoldenDict detects them and indexes them automatically. There can be an unlimited number of dictionaries, but the free version has a limit (5).

The search returns results fairly quickly and is case and punctuation insensitive. Separately, you can install morpheme dictionaries, then GoldenDict will take into account word forms.

If there are several dictionaries, the results are displayed in a list. There is a search in the dictionary entry. Formatting allows you to highlight descriptions, terms, letters under stress and, in general, read comfortably. Voice acting is available only if the corresponding base is added (for example, from Lingvo). In the settings, you can fine-tune the output, switch to the night display mode.

What is even more useful, GoldenDict can be integrated into reading programs, displaying the translation in a pop-up window, that is, acting as a contextual translator.

Summary. GoldenDict is an easy-to-configure and versatile shell. It will be useful if detailing is important (transcription, word forms, voice acting) and specialization in certain dictionaries. Or, say, in a situation where desktop dictionaries are used, and they need to be transferred to mobile devices to access them offline.

[+] Detailed translation
[+] Consideration of morphology when searching

Fora Dictionary

Fora Dictionary is a cross-platform app available for both mobile (Android/iOS) and desktop (Windows/Mac/Linux) platforms. Desktop version is free, mobile versions contain ads that are disabled when you purchase a license.

The main thing to note is the universal application of this shell. Similar to GoldenDict, dictionaries are initially absent here. There are five ways to add dictionaries: packages, downloads, offline dictionaries on SD card, online and Wikipedia. Not all methods are applicable to English-Russian translation, so copying local dictionaries and then specifying them to the program will be useful.

Supported local dictionaries are: StarDict, XDXF, DSL, DICTD databases, and simple dictionaries (TSV). Installation packages are installed from resources such as WordNet, FOLDOC, Factbook, Moby. Implemented management of dictionaries: they can not only be added from various sources, but also create profiles, group.

At the same time, the process of installing a Russian dictionary is not as easy as expected. It is not difficult to find a free dictionary, but its further connection is difficult due to the inconvenient interface, and indexing takes a long time.

Although it cannot be said that Fora Dictionary pleases with a modern design, the interface is highly customizable: article design, menu layout, panels and buttons. Navigation is also thought out: hotkeys, shortcuts, sidebar, search history and transitions can be used.

The search supports fuzzy input, hints are available as you type. The returned result can be formatted according to the Fora Dictionary settings, although it largely depends on the original layout of the dictionary.

Voice synthesis is used for speech synthesis (TTS, or Text-to-Speech), available for English, French, German, Italian and Spanish. Alternatively, you can download the audio file High Quality. In addition, the search can use voice input.

Summary. Fora Dictionary has common features with GoldenDict: on the principle of adding dictionaries. True, none of these solutions can be compared with this application in terms of the number of sources. Given the cross-platform nature of Fora, the same databases can be used on mobile and desktop platforms.

[+] Support for many formats of dictionaries
[+] Easy navigation and customizable interface
[-] Inconvenient addition of custom dictionaries

bigg

Bigg - English-Russian dictionary and phrasebook. The application is convenient because the dictionaries are available offline without any prior configuration, the need to download databases and other actions. All components occupy 50 MB and are copied to the SD card during installation. To present moment Bigg does not support external dictionaries or other translation directions. This is perhaps the only significant drawback when compared with competing solutions.

The dictionary includes Russian and English terms, in total more than 3 million dictionary entries and about 2 thousand phrases in the phrasebook. On the one hand, it is relatively silent, but there are pluses: fast start applications and instant database search. There is no need to switch the translation direction - the program does it automatically. The search is conducted taking into account morphology.

When translating, it is not necessary to open a dictionary entry: the search results already provide options. If multiple words are entered, the translation for each one will be displayed. The article displays translation options grouped by parts of speech, transcription is available. Through a separate section of the application, you can familiarize yourself with irregular verbs.

Bigg Phrasebook contains expressions on popular topics, common phrases- all of them are carefully structured. Words and expressions from the phrase book and dictionary can be added to favorites for quick access to them.

Summary. Bigg is one of the best English-Russian dictionaries. It will be useful for language learners. It is very easy to use and contains only the necessary functions, without requiring any prior configuration. The only thing missing is the ability to add your own dictionaries and support for languages ​​other than English.

[+] Speed ​​and convenience of work
[+] Translation is available immediately after installation
[-] Inability to connect custom dictionaries

ColorDict

ColorDict provides connection of dictionaries from Google Play and other online sources. In the future, they can be used offline. Some network functions are involved, for example, when searching for a word in Wikipedia.

As for offline dictionaries, there is support for the relatively popular StarDict format. You can copy the required set to the dictdata folder. Dictionaries are indexed automatically and are then available for use. In the corresponding section of the application, you can sort dictionaries, assign color labels to them - convenient, say, for grouping.

The search performs well when working with many dictionaries: options are displayed, in the history you can view previously entered terms, add items to favorites, set their sort order. The result from any field is copied to the clipboard. From the wishes - it would be nice to implement adding results to favorites with subsequent export.

When deriving terms, blocks of different colors are used, reading is quite comfortable. There are three display options to choose from: WebView, TextView and TextView Space. Unfortunately, some dictionaries do not provide even minimal formatting, as a result of which the text is difficult to read.

Language learners will benefit from the TTS voiceover option, with American and British versions. Transcription is not available everywhere, this option depends on the original content of the dictionary.

Of the additional features - ColorDict integrates with reading programs, namely FBReader, Moon + Reader, Cool Reader and ezPDF Reader. Thus, it can play the role of a context translator.

Summary. ColorDict works with local dictionaries, supports Wikipedia search. Another plus is integration with reader programs, which allows you to use ColorDict as context translator(on a par with GoldenDict).

[+] Connecting StarDict dictionaries
[+] Integration with readers
[+] Color labels for blocks and dictionaries

"Offline dictionaries"

"Offline dictionaries", as the name suggests, offer access to dictionaries without an internet connection. However, to add them, you still need to download the necessary databases. About 50 multilingual dictionaries of various directions are offered: English, Russian, French, German, Chinese, Hebrew, etc. For Russian, at the time of review, 12 directions and dictionaries are available, for English - 32. Adding local dictionaries is not provided.

The program is not very user friendly. Even if we assume that advertising - as a distraction - can be turned off when buying a license, the translation is confusing: "option, preferences" and other inscriptions distract from the essence.

Now about the search. Filters allow you to set search criteria. Theoretically, this can be useful for spelling correction (although fuzzy search would be more convenient in this case). Filters are ideal when solving crossword puzzles, although this task cannot be called specialized for translation.

You can display the result both on a separate dictionary page and as a list. Another inconvenience is that "Offline dictionaries" do not use a single database, which significantly slows down the search, taking time when switching between dictionaries. The same GoldenDict dictionary offers a convenient option - displaying all the results in a single list.

The actual display of articles in the "Dictionaries" is well detailed, there is a grouping by parts of speech. Highlighting is not available, transcription is not expected. TTS synthesis is available (including British and American pronunciations, plus 6 additional languages), but it is also not very convenient, since the entire article is synthesized, and not the search word in the search string (see Fora Dictionary).

Summary. It can be assumed that the application copes with its main duties, allowing you to quickly install the necessary dictionaries and get an exhaustive translation of the word. Negative factor is that not enough attention has been paid to the ergonomics of the application. This is especially noticeable when actively accessing dictionaries and searching for words.

pivot table

The Android operating system has a convenient spell checker that can not only suggest the correct spelling of words, but also automatically correct typos. This auto-correction system can be made even more useful with the help of special custom dictionaries. In this article, you will learn how to use them correctly, including not only for spell checking. First of all, you need to make sure that the spell check function is activated in the settings of your device. To do this, open the "Language and input" section in android settings and check the box next to “Check Spelling”. Nearby is the settings button, with which you can enter the language selection menu for which the text will be checked and corrected.

After checking the correctness of the auto-correction and dictionary settings, you can open any text editor and try its work. As you type, a guessed correct version of the word you are typing will be displayed above the keyboard. You can speed up input long word just by clicking on correct option in the line above.

Very often there are situations when the built-in dictionary does not know the word you are entering and underlines it even though you are sure that it is correct. It is to solve such problems that the user dictionary is intended. Adding a word to it is very simple: just click on the highlighted word in the line above the keyboard keys and you will be prompted to add this word to the user's dictionary. The same can be done by tapping on the underlined word in the already typed text.

To manage and manually fill the user dictionary, open the already familiar section “Language and input” in the Android settings and follow the link “Custom dictionaries”. Here you can see dictionaries for each language used, as well as one general. By opening any of them, the user gets the opportunity to view, delete or add the necessary entries.

To add a new entry, click on the plus sign in the upper right corner and fill in the required fields. At the same time, as you can see in the screenshot, you can enter not only individual words, but also whole phrases and alphanumeric combinations. Thanks to this ability, it is quite possible to use the user dictionary in several roles that are unusual for it.

Filling out forms. Count the number of times you had to enter your postal address and other personal details when registering. Add this data to your personal dictionary and you will be able to fill in the required fields with just a few characters.

Password manager. Many complain about the lack of a simple and convenient password manager in Android, like LastPass on desktops. Spend half an hour entering passwords for the services you use into a user dictionary and get the ability to quickly enter them in any browser. Of course, this should not be done in relation to those services that contain your important financial or personal information, such passwords should be kept only in your head.

Common phrases. If during correspondence or SMS communication you often use the same turns or even whole sentences, then hang keyboard shortcuts on them. For example, replace "C Best wishes, Name” to “snp” and you will save a few seconds every time you type this phrase.

Thus, users get the opportunity to use their Android dictionaries not only for competent writing, but also for quickly entering their data, passwords or even entire sentences.

29.12.2017 18:40:00

In one of the articles, we discussed most popular dating apps.

You no longer need to carry heavy paper dictionaries with you - now they fit comfortably on the screen of your mobile device. In this review, you will find worthy options for explanatory and specialized dictionaries for Android devices, as well as popular translator dictionaries.

Translation dictionaries

One of the best dictionaries for Android, Google Translator supports 90 world languages. The application shows several translation options and voices them. Completed translations can be saved and synchronized with other devices. For Android devices, the application is distributed free of charge, and latest versions Dictionaries also work offline.

Dictionary from Yandex - if not the best for Android, then certainly easy to use. Translates individual words, phrases, sentences and texts online and offline. In offline mode, 6 languages ​​​​are available (including Russian), and if there is a connection, more than 40. The application is free.

ABBYY Lingvo Dictionaries

Among paid apps for Android, ABBYY Lingvo can be considered the best dictionary - in addition to offline mode, its advantages include the ability to create your own active dictionary with frequently used words. For translation, the method of manual text input, translation from photographs and screenshots is used. The cost of this dictionary is from 59 rubles.

Lingvo Live Dictionary for Android gives you access to more than 130 dictionaries in 14 languages ​​online. Application users can leave their own translations, comments and ratings, on the basis of which a "folk" dictionary is formed. The application is distributed free of charge.

This Android dictionary is designed to translate words and phrases from Russian into English and from English into Russian. Works great offline, but when connected to the Internet, you can listen to the pronunciation of words. Several settings are available for users of this English-Russian Android dictionary.

Explanatory dictionaries

Wikipedia Mobile

The official application of Wikipedia - the famous encyclopedia, which contains tens of millions of articles in various languages. Using the application, you can view and edit articles, save interesting pages, share them in social networks. The app is free.

Dictionary Dahl

This Russian dictionary is considered the largest among applications for Android and includes more than 200,000 words, as well as 30,000 sayings, proverbs and riddles as supporting material to explain the meaning of the word. In the offline version of the application, head search, settings, history and the bookmark saving function are available. This Russian explanatory dictionary is also available to owners of Android devices for free.

Other smartphones Fly
All models of Fly phones can be found in our online store.

Specialized dictionaries

Good Russian medical dictionary for Android with basic terms translated into English. The application is distributed free of charge and works without an Internet connection. Requests are saved in the history, it is possible to add articles to Favorites.

The dictionary is intended for Android users who are proficient in English language. The appendix indicates the full definition of the word and examples of its use in speech, as well as the origin, synonyms and antonyms. Available voice search, pronunciation, illustrations with an Internet connection. The application is freely available.

If you're interested in Android dictionaries, check out our helpful review of translator apps.