Brain Dump's custom dictionary feature lets you teach the app uncommon words, technical jargon, proper names, and industry-specific terminology once, so every future transcription gets them right automatically.
Why Use the Custom Dictionary
iPhone's built-in speech recognition is excellent for everyday words, but it struggles with:
- Product names: "Kubernetes", "PostgreSQL", "Figma"
- Character names: "Aragorn", "Daenerys", "Hermione"
- Technical jargon: "API endpoint", "CI/CD pipeline", "OAuth token"
- Industry acronyms: "HIPAA", "GDPR", "KPI"
- Proper names: "Saravanan", "Xiaoming", "François"
- Company names: "Anthropic", "Vercel", "Supabase"
Without custom dictionary entries, Brain Dump might transcribe "Kubernetes" as "communities" or "PostgreSQL" as "post gress Q L". The custom dictionary fixes this permanently.
How to Add Custom Dictionary Words
Step 1: Open Brain Dump Settings
- Launch Brain Dump on your iPhone
- Tap the Settings icon (gear symbol) in the top right corner
- Scroll down to the Transcription section
Step 2: Access the Custom Dictionary
- Tap "Custom Dictionary" in the settings menu
- You'll see a list of any words you've already added
- If this is your first time, the list will be empty
Step 3: Add Your Word or Phrase
- Tap the + button in the top right
- Type the word exactly as you want it to appear in transcripts
- Example: "Kubernetes" (not "kubernetes" if you want it capitalized)
- Example: "PostgreSQL" (capital P and SQL)
- Tap Save
Step 4: Test the New Entry
- Go back to the main Brain Dump screen
- Tap Record and say your newly added word
- Check that it transcribes correctly
- If it doesn't, edit the dictionary entry with a different spelling or phonetic variation
What to Add to Your Custom Dictionary
For Software Engineers
- Framework names: React, Vue.js, Next.js, Django, FastAPI
- Database systems: PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Redis, Elasticsearch
- Tools: Kubernetes, Docker, Terraform, GitHub Actions
- Concepts: API, REST, GraphQL, microservices, CI/CD
For Writers and Novelists
- Character names from your manuscript
- Fictional place names
- Made-up terminology or magic systems
- Historical proper nouns for period fiction
For Business Professionals
- Client company names
- Product names and SKUs
- Industry-specific acronyms (EBITDA, ROI, MRR, ARR)
- Internal project codenames
For Healthcare Workers
- Medical terminology and drug names
- Patient management system names
- Procedure codes and medical acronyms
- HIPAA, EHR, and other healthcare terms
For Journalists
- Source names (with permission)
- Publication names
- Beat-specific jargon
- Geographic locations with unusual spellings
Tips for Better Custom Dictionary Accuracy
Use capitalization intentionally: Brain Dump preserves the capitalization you enter. If you type "iOS", it will transcribe as "iOS" instead of "ios".
Add common phrases: You can add multi-word phrases like "pull request" or "neural network" to ensure consistent formatting.
Include variations: Add both singular and plural forms if needed ("API" and "APIs").
Test in context: After adding a word, record a full sentence using it to make sure it sounds natural in your typical voice notes.
Be phonetic when needed: If Brain Dump still mishears a word, try adding a phonetic spelling variant (though the exact spelling usually works best).
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Q: I added a word but Brain Dump still gets it wrong A: Try these solutions:
- Verify the spelling in your custom dictionary (tap Edit to check)
- Speak the word more clearly and pause slightly before/after it
- Add a phonetic variation to the dictionary
- Make sure your iPhone's language is set correctly in Settings → General → Language & Region
Q: My custom dictionary words disappeared A: Custom dictionary entries are stored in your iCloud. If you signed out of iCloud and back in, they should sync back. Make sure iCloud Drive is enabled for Brain Dump.
Q: Can I export my custom dictionary? A: Not directly, but your custom dictionary syncs via iCloud to all devices running Brain Dump. If you reinstall the app or get a new iPhone, your entries will return when you sign in.
Related Guides
- Voice dictation tips for clear notes — Improve general transcription accuracy
- iPhone offline dictation in Airplane Mode — How on-device transcription works
- Export to Obsidian — Use custom dictionary words in your knowledge base
Frequently Asked Questions
How many words can I add? There's no hard limit. Most users add 20-100 words for their specific domain.
Do custom words work offline? Yes! They're stored on your device and work with on-device transcription, even in Airplane Mode.
Will this slow down transcription? No. The custom dictionary has no noticeable impact on transcription speed.
Can I bulk import a word list? Not yet, but it's a frequently requested feature. For now, you'll need to add words one at a time.
Last updated: January 2025. Using Brain Dump 2.x on iOS 17+.