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
The same entries help if you're capturing insights while reading: author names and character names are exactly what trips up transcription mid-chapter.
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.
Still stuck on something outside the dictionary itself? The Help Center covers the rest of Brain Dump's setup and sync questions.
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. Add as many as your domain needs.
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.