Create, import, and export a custom vocabulary for Voice Control on Mac
If you use Voice Control on your Mac with a language that supports a custom vocabulary, you can add words and phrases—individually or by importing a list—so it’s easier to work with specialized apps or documents. For example, if you use CAD software or work on medical documents, you could enter terms such as DIMSTYLE or hemianopsia to ensure the words are entered correctly when you use Voice Control.
You can create a custom vocabulary list for each language. Additionally, you can export or import terms for each language, and easily add words from one language to another.
Add individual vocabulary terms
On your Mac, choose Apple menu
> System Settings, click Accessibility in the sidebar, then click Voice Control on the right. (You may need to scroll down.)Click Vocabulary.
If the option is dimmed, the selected language doesn’t support a custom vocabulary; try selecting a different language.
Click the Add button
, then type a word or phrase as you want it to be entered when you say it.Click Save, then click Save again.
Tip: Quickly add vocabulary terms as you’re working by speaking a command. Select the word or phrase you want to add, then say “Add to vocabulary.”
Import multiple custom vocabulary terms
You can import from a text file with each term on a separate line or from a file that was previously exported by Voice Control (see the task below for how to export).
On your Mac, choose Apple menu
> System Settings, click Accessibility in the sidebar, then click Voice Control on the right. (You may need to scroll down.)Click the Advanced Actions menu
in the lower-right corner, then choose Import Vocabulary.Select the file of vocabulary terms, then click Select.
Select a single language or All Languages, then click Import.
Export custom vocabulary terms
On your Mac, choose Apple menu
> System Settings, click Accessibility in the sidebar, then click Voice Control on the right. (You may need to scroll down.)Click the Advanced Actions menu
in the lower-right corner, then choose Export Vocabulary.Choose the file format and language, then click Continue.
Choose a location, then click Export.
Delete custom vocabulary
On your Mac, choose Apple menu
> System Settings, click Accessibility in the sidebar, then click Voice Control on the right. (You may need to scroll down.)Do one of the following:
Delete one vocabulary term: Click Vocabulary, select the word or phrase to delete, click the Remove button
, then click Save.Delete all custom vocabulary: Click the Advanced Actions menu
in the lower-right corner, choose Delete All Vocabulary, then click Delete.