Wiktionary facts for kids
Logo of English Wiktionary
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Screenshot
Main Page of the English Wiktionary on December 4, 2024
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Type of site
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Online dictionary |
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| Available in | Multilingual (174 active) |
| Owner | Wikimedia Foundation |
| Created by |
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| Commercial | No |
| Registration | Optional |
| Launched | December 12, 2002 |
| Current status | Active |
Wiktionary is a huge online dictionary that helps you understand words from many different languages. Imagine a dictionary that isn't just for one language, but for almost all of them! It's a project found on the World Wide Web, just like Wikipedia.
This amazing dictionary is built by volunteers from all over the world. They work together to create entries for words, phrases, and even old sayings. Each entry can include definitions, pictures, how to say the word, where it came from (its etymology), and even how to translate it into other languages.
The name "Wiktionary" is a mix of "wiki" (which means a website anyone can edit) and "dictionary". It's available in many languages, including a Simple English version. Wiktionary is run by the same group that runs Wikipedia, the Wikimedia Foundation. Anyone can help add or edit entries using special software called MediaWiki.
Because Wiktionary is online, it doesn't have limits like a printed book. This means it can offer lots of information. It includes definitions and translations for terms from many languages. Some versions even have extra details, like a thesaurus would.
Contents
What is Wiktionary?
Wiktionary is a special kind of dictionary that lives on the internet. It's different from a regular dictionary because it covers words from many different languages, not just one. It's also a "wiki," which means people from all over the world can work together to build and improve it.
What You Can Find in Wiktionary
When you look up a word in Wiktionary, you might find many helpful things. These include:
- The word's meaning or definition.
- Pictures to help you understand.
- How to pronounce the word.
- Its etymology, which is the story of where the word came from.
- Examples of how to use the word in a sentence.
- Translations of the word into other languages.
How Wiktionary Started
Wiktionary first came online on December 12, 2002. The idea came from Larry Sanger, who also helped start Wikipedia. It began as an English dictionary, but soon grew to include many other languages.
Growing with Many Languages
By March 28, 2004, the first Wiktionaries in languages other than English were started. These included French and Polish. Since then, many more language versions have been created. Wiktionary quickly grew to have millions of entries across all its different language editions.
How Computers Help Wiktionary Grow
Many of the entries in Wiktionary were added with the help of computer programs called "bots." These bots found clever ways to create new entries or imported words from older dictionaries that were free to use. This helped Wiktionary grow very quickly.
The English Wiktionary is the largest version, with millions of entries. Even without the entries added by bots, its collection of English words is much bigger than many large printed dictionaries.
The Look of Wiktionary: Logos
Wiktionary has had different logos over the years. For a while, each language version had its own unique logo. This was often a picture of a dictionary entry for the word "Wiktionary" in that language.
Later, people wanted a single logo that all Wiktionary versions could use. After some contests, a design showing a 3x3 grid of wooden tiles became popular. Each tile has a character from a different writing system, representing all the languages Wiktionary covers. Today, many Wiktionary sites use a version of this logo.
Many Languages, Many Words
Wiktionary is truly a global project. This means you can find definitions and translations for words in almost any language you can think of!
How Computers Use Wiktionary Data
The information in Wiktionary is not just for people to read. It's also very useful for computers! Because Wiktionary's data is organized, computer programs can use it for many tasks. For example, it can help computers:
- Translate languages.
- Understand human speech.
- Learn about how words are related to each other.
- Make text easier to read.
In 2018, a project called "Wikidata:Lexicographical data" started. It helps store word data from all languages in a way that computers can easily read and use. This makes Wiktionary's information even more powerful for technology.
See also
- Lingua Libre
