The Look Up feature on iPhone defaults to fetching definitions only in your device’s primary language. But if you speak multiple languages, you can also turn on Look Up to look up words in other languages.
Add a Secondary Dictionary on Your iPhone
You can also add a secondary dictionary via the Settings app or directly from the Look Up card.
From the Settings App:
- Open Settings, then General > Dictionary.
- Search for your second language and click to download the dictionary.
From the Look Up Card:
Press and hold a word in any app, then tap Look Up. If Apple Intelligence is enabled, swipe left to locate Look Up.
- Then scroll down and tap on Manage Dictionaries.
- Tap on the dictionary you want to remove.
- Once downloaded, a checkmark will appear next to it. Tap it again to delete it at any time.
There are dictionaries with translations and definitions for some languages: One gives words in that language, and the other shows their English translation. That is helpful to language learners.
Use Look Up In Your Secondary Language
Once you’ve added your dictionary, you can long-press a word, choose Look Up, and the definition will appear in the same language.
To learn more, tap Search Web, which opens Google results in Safari.
Why This Feature Is Useful
How Adding a Secondary Language to Look Up Works. This feature helps you understand words across multiple languages without reliance on another separate dictionary app.
