aspell-import

aspell-import [options] dict-file

dict-file
    Path to the dictionary or word list file to import (autodetects format: Ispell, MySpell, etc.)

-l lang, --lang lang
    Sets the language (e.g., en_US) for the personal dictionary to update

The aspell-import command is a utility from the Aspell spell-checking package that converts and imports personal word lists or dictionaries from other spell checkers into Aspell's native format. It reads words from a specified input file, automatically detects the format (such as Ispell, hashed Ispell, or MySpell/OpenOffice), and adds them to the personal dictionary for the specified language.

This is particularly useful when migrating from older spell checkers like Ispell or Hunspell to Aspell, allowing users to preserve custom word lists without manual recreation. The command integrates seamlessly with Aspell's dictionary management system, updating the .aspell.lang.pws file in the user's home directory.

Usage typically involves providing the path to the source dictionary file as the sole argument, with optional flags to specify the language or other Aspell behaviors. It ensures words are correctly encoded and normalized during import, handling common pitfalls like duplicate entries or unsupported characters.

Backup your personal dictionary (~/.aspell.lang.pws) before importing, as it appends words irreversibly. Only supports specific legacy formats; modern dictionaries may require manual conversion. Run as the user owning the dictionary.

Ispell (.isp), hashed Ispell (.hash), MySpell/OpenOffice (.dic + .aff). Detects automatically.

aspell-import ~/ispell.en.pws
aspell-import -l en_US ~/myspell.dic

Developed as part of Aspell by Kevin Atkinson starting in 1999-2000 to replace Ispell. The aspell-import utility was introduced early to facilitate user migration from Ispell and MySpell, with format detection improving in Aspell 0.50+ releases around 2004. Remains stable in modern distributions.

aspell(1), aspell-dump(1), aspell-create-main-dict(8), ispell(1)