#206 The Best Online English Dictionaries

#206 The Best Online English Dictionaries
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Transcript:
Hi, everybody! I am Georgiana, your English teacher and founder of SpeakEnglishPodcast.com. My mission is to help you speak English fluently.

Today, we will talk about a topic that I’m sure you will find very useful.

I will talk about the best online English dictionaries.

And with a mini-story, you will practice your English fluency.

Okay. Let’s get started.

We have all used an English dictionary at one time or another. And I think it was easier before the Internet. Everyone had a single dictionary at home and consulted it in paper format.

And then, for a short time, people used dictionaries on their computers.

But then came the Internet. And everything became faster, more convenient, but also more confusing. Because right now, we have more dictionaries at our disposal than ever. However, especially when we want to look up how to pronounce a word in English.

So let’s see what are the most used English dictionaries on the Internet:

Of course, many people use the Google dictionary, which is actually a translator. And although it is not a bad one, I do not recommend it, especially if you want to look up the pronunciation of an English word. Although the Google dictionary also has some good things. It is compatible with several languages, it has the credibility and reliability of Google as a brand, and it also provides the meaning of almost all the words in English. However, the translations of the words are not always correct.

On the other hand, The Free Dictionary is one of the most famous dictionaries for pronunciation. It offers all the basics you need as a pronunciation resource. You can search by words, characters, or text with this dictionary to find definitions and voice pronunciations. In addition, you can compare the pronunciation differences between American and British English. And in case you want to use your mobile or tablet, they also have an app for iPhone and Android.

There is also the Merriam-Webster online dictionary, one of the most respected dictionaries of the English language. It offers phonetic translations, Spanish to English translations, and a medical dictionary. It also provides information on the history and etymology of words.

Cambridge Dictionary online.

Many people use the Cambridge Dictionary online. It has three outstanding features: dictionary, grammar, and translator. If you want to look up the pronunciation of a British English word, especially, or if you are looking for a very detailed historical resource, this is for you. I find that American English pronunciation is not always correct, so I recommend this dictionary for those who like British pronunciation better.
It comes with unique options that can help you improve your grammar and fluency. Its search engine has an auto-suggest feature that allows you to select the word you are looking for by just typing a few letters.

The Oxford Dictionary is one of the oldest and most trusted online dictionaries. This online dictionary is a robust tool that helps you define words in both British and American English.

It is the ideal dictionary to use when writing a thesis or research paper.

However, I should also note that this dictionary has complex word definitions and unclear explanations.

Even though it is the last on the list, Dictionary.com is the dictionary I use regularly. This dictionary has earned the trust of millions of users worldwide for the last two decades. One of my favorite features is the audio pronunciation. It is the dictionary I recommend if you want to consult and practice the pronunciation of American English words.