# Translating software/dictionary for a Kindle?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/translating-software-dictionary-for-a-kindle/598141>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [September 30, 2011, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/translating-software-dictionary-for-a-kindle/598141 "2011-09-30T12:20:24Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\
**Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/translating-software-dictionary-for-a-kindle/598141/1 "2011-09-30T12:20:24Z")

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I’m planning to get me a Kindle. I’m German, and I’m used to the Babelfish add-on for Firefox where you get an online translation for any word you double-click instantly, to the degree that I frequently have brain farts when reading a physical English book in which I try to do the same before I come to my senses and grab a dictionary. But is this possible with a Kindle? If not, what is the fastest way to look up a word in a dictionary?

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**Author:** ![Archeonomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7cd45c/32.png) [@Archeonomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Archeonomist)\
**Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/translating-software-dictionary-for-a-kindle/598141/2 "2011-09-30T12:28:49Z")

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You can have a number of dictionaries on the Kindle. For a quick lookup while reading, just move the cursor to a word within the text, and it looks it up for you in the dictionary you have set as default.

You’d also need this: [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004C4468W?ie=UTF8&tag=blogkindle0e-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B004C4468W](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004C4468W?ie=UTF8&tag=blogkindle0e-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B004C4468W)

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**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\
**Post date:** [September 30, 2011, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/translating-software-dictionary-for-a-kindle/598141/3 "2011-09-30T12:48:27Z")

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Great, thanks for the prompt answer. This makes my anticipation for the Kindle even grow stronger, but I’ll have to wait like a good kid, because I want to have it as gift for Christmas. 🙂