5 Best Spanish Dictionary Apps In 2024 – Free And Paid For Spanish Learners
You know that feeling when you’re chatting in Spanish and suddenly hit a word-wall?
Fear not!
These are the best Spanish dictionary apps, and they are like having a pocket-sized language wizard, ready to bail you out of any pickle.
But wait, there’s more!
We’re not just talking about boring old word lists here. Oh no, my friends. We’re talking about apps that’ll have you speaking Spanish smoother than a well-oiled mariachi guitar.
The awesome Savvy Professor has made a video showing the best Spanish dictionary apps that are digital language lifesavers.
Check it out here:
So, are you ready to turn your Spanish from “meh” to “¡magnífico!“?
1. SpanishDict
Price: Free; in-app purchases
SpanishDict is a comprehensive app that’s more than just a dictionary.
It offers definitions, example sentences, verb conjugations, and audio pronunciations.
The standout feature is its spaced repetition flashcard system, which is great for vocabulary retention.
It’s free with a premium option and available on both iOS and Android. As a teacher, we’ve seen many students make great progress with this app.
2. Collins Spanish-English Dictionary
Price: $7.99 l $17.99
This paid iOS app is known for its accuracy and depth.
It includes a comprehensive dictionary, verb conjugations, and idiomatic expressions.
The clear pronunciation guides are particularly helpful for improving speaking skills. While it’s not free, the quality of content makes it worth considering for serious learners.
3. WordReference
Price: Free; in-app purchases
WordReference is a free app for iOS and Android that combines a reliable dictionary with a community forum. It offers detailed definitions, synonyms, and conjugations.
The forum is a unique feature where learners can discuss language questions with native speakers. It’s a great resource for understanding tricky expressions or colloquialisms.
4. Linguee
Price: Free; in-app purchases
Linguee stands out by combining a dictionary with a translation app.
It provides translations alongside real-life usage examples, which is fantastic for understanding context.
The offline mode and native speaker pronunciations are useful features.
It’s free and available on both platforms.
5. Reverso Translation Dictionary
Price: Free; in-app purchases
Reverso offers translations, contextual examples, and detailed word information.
Its language-learning tool with saveable phrases and flashcards is particularly useful for self-study. It’s free with in-app purchases on both iOS and Android.
I’ve found it especially helpful for students who want to practice independently between lessons.
How to use the best Spanish dictionary apps with Conversation Based Chunking
When you’re using these dictionary apps, try to shift your focus from individual words to phrases or “chunks” of language.
Instead of looking up single words, search for common expressions or collocations.
Let’s say that instead of just “tiempo” (time), look for phrases like “a tiempo” (on time) or “pasar el tiempo” (to spend time). This way, you’re learning how words naturally fit together in Spanish.
Many of these apps, like SpanishDict and Linguee, offer example sentences.
These are unbelievably useful for chunking!
When you find a word you want to learn, pay close attention to the sentences it’s used in. Notice the words that often appear before or after it. These are your chunks.
If you look up “cuenta” (account), you might see phrases like “darse cuenta de” (to realize) or “por cuenta propia” (on one’s own). Jot these down and try to use them in your own sentences.
The goal of Conversation Based Chunking is to learn language as it’s actually used, not just as individual words strung together. So when you’re using these apps, always be on the lookout for natural, commonly used expressions.
It’s these chunks that will make your Spanish sound more authentic and fluent.
And here’s a pro tip: use the audio features in apps like SpanishDict or Collins to listen to how these chunks are pronounced. Try to mimic the intonation and rhythm.
This will help you internalize the chunks as single units of speech, rather than separate words. If you want to learn more about this method, sign up to our email list and we’ll tell you everything you need to know about this approach.
By the way, if you’re interested, you can check out our dedicated article about the best apps to learn Spanish!
