Manage Speech Dictionary Words in Windows 10

Windows provides both a device-based speech recognition feature (available through the Windows Speech Recognition Desktop app), and a cloud-based speech recognition service in those markets and regions where Cortana is available. In this article, we will see how to customize the speech dictionary that is used with the Speech Recognition feature. It is possible to add, edit, and delete its words.

Windows Speech Recognition lets you control your PC with your voice alone, without needing a keyboard or mouse. There's a special wizard to help you get started. You need to plug in your microphone, and then configure Windows Speech Recognition. Speech Recognition is a nice addition to the dictation feature of Windows 10.

Speech Recognition is only available for the following languages: English (United States, United Kingdom, Canada, India, and Australia), French, German, Japanese, Mandarin (Chinese Simplified and Chinese Traditional), and Spanish.

In Windows 10, you can create add, prevent, edit, and delete words in the Speech Dictionary used by the Speech Recognition feature.

Add a Word to the Speech Dictionary

1. Enable the Speech Recognition feature.
2. Right-click on the Speech Recognition toolbar and select Open the Speech Dictionary from the context menu. Alternatively, you can right-click on its tray icon.
3. In the next dialog, click on the Add a new word link.
4. Type the word you want to add, the click on the Next button.
5. Adjust the options you want, then click on the Finish button. Note: turn off (uncheck) the option I want to make more modifications to the Speech Dictionary if you are not going to further modify the Speech Dictionary.

If you enabled the Record a pronunciation option, you will be prompted to read aloud the word you added to the dictionary.

Prevent a Word from Being Dictated in the Speech Dictionary

1. Enable the Speech Recognition feature.
2. Right-click on the Speech Recognition toolbar and select Open the Speech Dictionary from the context menu. Alternatively, you can right-click on its tray icon.
3. In the next dialog, click on the Prevent a word from being dictated link.
4. Type the word you want to prevent from being dictated, the click on the Next button.
5. On the next page, confirm the operation.
6. Turn off (uncheck) the option I want to make more modifications to the Speech Dictionary if you are not going to further modify the Speech Dictionary.

Edit a Word in the Speech Dictionary

1. Right-click on the Speech Recognition toolbar and select Open the Speech Dictionary from the context menu. Alternatively, you can right-click on its tray icon.
2. In the next dialog, click on the Change existing words link.
3. On the next page, click on Edit a word.
4. On the next page, select a word you want to edit.
5. Make any changes to the spelling of your word and click Next. To change only the pronunciation of the word, simply click on Next.
6. Record a new pronunciation if required and click on the Finish button.

Delete a Word in the Speech Dictionary

1. Right-click on the Speech Recognition toolbar and select Open the Speech Dictionary from the context menu. Alternatively, you can right-click on its tray icon.
2. In the next dialog, click on the Change existing words link.
3. On the next page, click on the link Delete a word.
4. Select the word you want to delete, and click Next.
5. Click on the Finish button to remove the selected word.

That's it.