About The Project
The FreeDict project aims at providing high-quality language databases. These databases can serve as a basis for dictionaries (etc.) as well as machine-driven postprocessing for various applications.
The chosen format is TEI, which is XML-based, which allows a flexible export into other formats. At the moment, the dictionaries can be used with the Dict Server, Gnome-Dict, GoldenDict and online.
If you haven't heard of free and open dictionaries, you can try out the online query.
Latin-German Dictionary
When I searched in 2008 for a free Latin-German dictionary, there was no good one available (I speak about free as in freedom, not free of charge). Therefore I decided to build a free dictionary upon my notes. FreeDict provides tools for this task and converters into different output formats, whence I decided to create the dictionary within this project.
The new Latin-German dictionary is absolutely free, everyone can modify and improve it and contains in the current version about 5000 stems (license: GPL). If you are interested, there is
- an online version
- the actual version for the dict server as Download
- the source in the git repository
git clone https://github.com/freedict/fd-dictionaries.git
Using FreeDict dictionary databases
You need a dictionary program which makes use of the databases from the FreeDict project. There are quite a few programs which understand our dictionary format, but as far as I am aware Golden Dict is the only multiplatform and also actively developed client at the moment which comes with a lot of features.
Installation Of FreeDict Dictionaries On Debian/Ubuntu
On Debian or Ubuntu, just type
First, a dictionary program is requied:
apt-get install goldendict
And afterwards you can install a dictionary with e.g.
apt-get install dict-freedict-lat-deu
Installation Of FreeDict Dictionaries On Windows
On Windows, it is best to use GoldenDic, which can be downloaded from the project site and install the application.
The dictionaries have to be downloaded separately from the FreeDict web site.
Questions
If you have any issues with the dictionaries or questions how to use them or if you want to reuse them in a different project:
- FreeDict mailling list
- On this mailing list, the development of FreeDict takes place, but questions are answered as well.
- contact me directly
- Please do not hesitate to contact me to ask any questions regarding FreeDict or to make suggestions for improvements.
Help wanted!
The FreeDict project is always searching for new contributers. Have you found an error? Have you word lists (or even word lists with translations)? Do you want to extend or maintain a dictionary. We always need your help!
FreeDict is also searching for technically gifted people, which are writing import/export programs, integrate the dictionaries into GNU/Linux distributions. or check the databases for errors in an automated fashion. We also search for gifted web site developers.