Adding a word to your iPhone dictionary stops autocorrect from changing it

When you type a word your iPhone doesn't recognize — a name, a technical term, or slang you use regularly — the phone tries to "correct" it to something else. You can teach your iPhone to accept that word by adding it to the device dictionary. Once added, the word stays in your dictionary across all your apps, and autocorrect will stop flagging it as a mistake.

The fastest way is to let autocorrect suggest the correction, then reject it. But you can also add words manually through Settings if you want to build your dictionary ahead of time. Both methods work the same way — the word goes into the same dictionary file.

Key Takeaways

  • When autocorrect suggests a change you don't want, tap the suggestion and select "Add to Dictionary" to keep your original word.
  • You can add words manually by going to Settings > General > Keyboard > Text Replacement, then creating a shortcut with the word as both the phrase and the shortcut.
  • Words added to your dictionary sync across all your Apple devices if you use iCloud Keychain, so you only add them once.
  • Removing a word from your dictionary requires going back to Settings and deleting the text replacement entry you created.

Reject the autocorrect suggestion and add the word

The easiest method happens in the moment. When you type a word and autocorrect suggests a different word in the gray box above your keyboard, tap that suggestion box — but instead of accepting it, look for the word you actually typed. It should appear as an option. Tap your original word, then tap "Add to Dictionary" if that option appears.

On some iPhone models and iOS versions, you may see a small + icon next to your word instead. Tap that icon to add the word without extra steps. The word is now in your dictionary, and autocorrect will recognize it the next time you type it.

If you don't see an "Add to Dictionary" option, your word may already be in the dictionary, or the iPhone may not be offering that choice for that particular word. In that case, use the manual method instead.

Add words manually through Text Replacement

If you want to add a word before you type it, or if the quick method didn't work, go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Text Replacement. Tap the + button in the top right corner.

In the "Phrase" field, type the word exactly as you want to use it. In the "Shortcut" field, type the same word. This creates an entry that tells your iPhone the word is correct. Tap "Save" when you're done. The word is now in your dictionary.

You can also use Text Replacement to create shortcuts — for example, typing "omw" could expand to "on my way" — but for adding words to the dictionary, the phrase and shortcut should be identical.

Understand what gets stored and where

Your iPhone dictionary is stored locally on your device, but it syncs to other Apple devices through iCloud if you have iCloud Keychain turned on. This means if you add a word on your iPhone, it will appear in your iPad and Mac dictionaries too, without you having to add it again.

The dictionary is separate from your contacts list, so adding a person's name to your dictionary doesn't add them as a contact. If you want the name to sync across devices, add it to your dictionary. If you want it to appear in your contacts app, add it as a contact separately.

Remove a word from your dictionary

If you added a word by mistake, or you want autocorrect to start correcting it again, go back to Settings > General > Keyboard > Text Replacement. Find the word in the list, swipe left on it, and tap "Delete." The word is removed from your dictionary immediately.

If you added the word by rejecting an autocorrect suggestion, the process is the same — find it in Text Replacement and delete it. There's no separate "undo" button for words added through the quick method.

Why autocorrect still changes your word sometimes

Even after you add a word to your dictionary, autocorrect might still suggest a change in certain situations. This usually happens because the word is very similar to a common word, or because you typed it with a typo. If you type "teh" instead of "the," autocorrect will still suggest "the" even if "teh" is in your dictionary.

You can reject the suggestion each time, or you can add the misspelled version as a separate entry if you find yourself typing it often. For most words, adding them once to your dictionary solves the problem permanently.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will words I add to my iPhone dictionary appear on my Mac?

Yes, if you use the same iCloud account on both devices and have iCloud Keychain enabled. Words sync automatically, so you don't need to add them twice. Check Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud on your iPhone to confirm Keychain is on.

Can I add multiple words at once?

No, you have to add words one at a time through Settings or by rejecting autocorrect suggestions. There's no bulk import feature for personal dictionaries on iPhone. If you have many words to add, the quickest method is to type them and reject the autocorrect suggestion each time.

What happens if I add a word that's already in Apple's dictionary?

Nothing changes. Your entry overrides the default, but since you're adding the same word, autocorrect behavior stays the same. This is useful if you want to make sure a word is never corrected, even if Apple's dictionary has a different suggestion for it.

Can I add words to my iPhone dictionary through a computer?

Not directly. You have to add words on the iPhone itself, either through Settings or by rejecting autocorrect. Once added, they sync to your Mac and iPad through iCloud, but the initial entry must happen on an iOS device.

Does adding a word to my dictionary affect how other people see my messages?

No. Your dictionary is private to your device. Other people see the words you type, but they don't see your dictionary or how you've configured autocorrect. Your settings don't change how your messages appear to anyone else.