A popup dictionary that fits your Anki workflow

Wordwise is a browser dictionary built for Anki users. Look up any word while you read online, get a definition that fits the sentence, and export a clean Anki flashcard in one click.

20+ languages. Auto-detected. Works with Anki, AnkiConnect, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Brave.

Try Wordwise free7-day free trial

Why most dictionaries do not work well with Anki

A normal dictionary is built for looking up a word, not for creating an Anki card.

You read something online, find a word you want to remember, and search for the meaning. The dictionary gives you several definitions, but you still have to decide which one fits the sentence.

Then comes the Anki work: copy the definition, open Anki, create a card, paste the sentence, find the pronunciation, choose the right headword, and fix the formatting.

The hard part is not finding a definition. It is turning a word you just looked up into a useful Anki flashcard.

Wordwise is an Anki dictionary that closes that gap. Click any word while reading online and get a ready-to-export Anki card with the right definition, original sentence, pronunciation, and clean formatting.

Reading on a Kindle? See how to get your Kindle Vocabulary Builder words into Anki.

Context-aware lookup: same word, different card

A regular dictionary gives you every meaning and leaves you to pick.

Wordwise reads the sentence and picks for you.

Context 1

The company's gross revenue exceeded expectations for the third quarter in a row.

In a finance article, "gross" means total before deductions. Wordwise sees that context and gives you the right definition, not five entries to scroll through.

Context 2

The conditions in the abandoned building were gross, with mold covering every surface.

Same word, different sentence. Now "gross" means disgusting. The card you get reflects that. No manual disambiguation, no wrong definitions in your deck.

Anki flashcards built for real language learners

Not a generic flashcard tool. Every detail is designed for how serious learners actually study.

The word in its sentence, on the front

The front of the card shows the word highlighted in the sentence you found it in. You are not memorizing a word in isolation. You are recalling it in context, which is how vocabulary actually sticks.

Defined in your language

Reading in Spanish but think in English? The definition comes in English. Reading in Korean but think in Chinese? That works too. Wordwise translates the meaning into whatever language you actually understand, not the language you are learning.

Reverse cards for active recall

Recognizing a word is not the same as producing it. Reverse cards show you the definition and ask for the word, training the harder direction. Wordwise generates both cards from a single lookup.

Dark mode, everywhere

Wordwise cards respect your system dark mode. That includes AnkiWeb, which normally stays white even when your phone is in dark mode. Wordwise cards apply their theme to the whole AnkiWeb page, so late-night reviews on your phone do not blind you.

And that's just the start. Every detail is built for how language learners actually study:

  • Smart headword — look up "ran" or "corrió" and the card files under "run" / "correr", so you don't end up with duplicate entries for every conjugation.
  • Auto-sync — every export syncs your Anki collection automatically. No manual sync step.
  • Direct translation — in addition to the structured definition, get a one-line translation in your native language right on the card.

How Wordwise works as an Anki dictionary

  1. Double-click a word while reading online.
  2. Wordwise detects the language and reads the sentence around the word.
  3. It generates the right definition, pronunciation, part of speech, and context sentence.
  4. You export the card to Anki in one click.

Best Anki dictionary options: Wordwise vs Yomitan vs manual lookup

If you are looking for an Anki dictionary, you usually have three choices: use a browser tool built for Anki, set up Yomitan with dictionary packs, or copy definitions from a regular dictionary into Anki by hand.

WordwiseYomitanManual dictionary + Anki
Best forFast Anki flashcards from online readingJapanese learners and dictionary power usersFull control, but slow
Languages20+ with auto-detectionExcellent for Japanese; others need community packs, no auto-detectionAny language
Definition choiceContext-aware definition for the sentenceFull dictionary entries; you chooseYou choose manually
Card contentsHeadword, definition, sentence, pronunciation, reverse card, dark modeDepends on dictionary and templateWhatever you create yourself
From lookup to AnkiOne click, with auto-syncOne click after setupCopy, paste, format, and sync manually
SetupInstall the extensionInstall extension, dictionaries, and templatesNo setup
PriceFree for English / $5.99 per monthFree, open sourceFree, but manual

Yomitan is excellent for Japanese and power users who want full control over dictionary packs and templates. Wordwise is built for learners who want a fast Anki dictionary for multiple languages, with context-aware definitions and clean cards without setup.

What learners are saying

Featuredon Chrome4.7on Firefox2,000+ users
The best addon for anki
You've made a terrific piece of software for vocabulary that's easy to use and very useful. Top marks.
This is the perfect extension to advance my english vocabulary. Thank you.
Best extension, increased my efficiency 1000 times.

Anki dictionary FAQ

How is this different from Yomitan?

Yomitan is excellent for Japanese (and a few other languages with community dictionaries). But it does not auto-detect what language you are reading. If you switch from a Spanish article to a German one, you need to switch dictionary profiles manually. Wordwise auto-detects the language, works across 20+ languages out of the box, and generates the full Anki card for you, including definition, pronunciation, and the sentence you found it in. If you study Japanese exclusively, Yomitan is worth comparing. If you study multiple languages, Wordwise saves you from juggling dictionary packs.

What languages does it support?

Wordwise supports 22 languages: English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, Polish, Czech, Slovak, Hungarian, Romanian, Turkish, and Arabic. It auto-detects the language of the page you are reading and can define words in your native language.

Do I need Anki installed to use Wordwise?

No. With Anki and AnkiConnect running, cards export to your deck in one click. Without Anki, you can download your cards as a .txt file and import them later, or just review your lookup history inside Wordwise. You can also batch-import a word list if you have words saved up.

Is Wordwise free?

English-to-English lookups are free forever. Every other language starts with a 7-day free trial, no credit card required. See pricing for details.

How do I start the free trial?

Install the extension and sign up for a Wordwise account. The 7-day free trial starts automatically, no credit card needed.

Does it work on Firefox and Edge?

Yes. Wordwise is available on Chrome, Firefox, and any Chromium-based browser like Edge or Brave.

What does the Anki card look like?

Scroll up to see real card examples on this page. Every card includes the word, a context-aware definition, direct translation, pronunciation, part of speech, and the sentence you found the word in. Cards are consistently formatted so your deck stays clean, even across languages.

Your next word,one click from Anki

Stop copying definitions by hand. Look up a word and export the card.

Try Wordwise free