# Wiktionary API

> Wiktionary returns word definitions, pronunciations, origins, forms, and translations as a workflow and API.

Wiktionary’s Define word method explains a supplied word in English, with examples, pronunciations, origins, and forms; language is optional. For English words, Define word can return translations into up to 30 languages, depending on what Wiktionary records.

- Page: https://fous.com/tools/wiktionary
- Handle: `@wiktionary`
- Category: [Education](https://fous.com/tools/category/education)
- Source website: https://wiktionary.org
- Last verified: Sep 29, 2026

## Methods

### Define word

Operation `define_word`, version 1. 1 credit per completed call. Failed calls without a completed billing receipt are free; completed work can remain charged if delivery is interrupted.

Explain a Wiktionary word in English with meanings, examples, IPA pronunciations, origin, forms and, for English words, translations into up to 30 languages. Details depend on what Wiktionary records.

**Input**

| Field | Type | Required | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| `word` | string | yes | `"Haus"` | Word to define, for example "schadenfreude". |
| `language` | string | no | `"German"` | Language of the word, for example "German". Defaults to English. |

**Input schema**

```json
{
  "type": "object",
  "required": [
    "word"
  ],
  "properties": {
    "word": {
      "type": "string",
      "description": "Word to define, for example \"schadenfreude\".",
      "examples": [
        "Haus",
        "Schadenfreude",
        "dog"
      ]
    },
    "language": {
      "type": "string",
      "default": "English",
      "description": "Language of the word, for example \"German\". Defaults to English.",
      "examples": [
        "German"
      ]
    }
  },
  "additionalProperties": false,
  "examples": [
    {
      "word": "Haus",
      "language": "German"
    },
    {
      "word": "Schadenfreude"
    },
    {
      "word": "dog"
    }
  ]
}
```

**Output**

| Field | Type | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `word` | string | `"Haus"` |  |
| `entries` | array |  |  |
| `entries[].definitions` | array |  |  |
| `entries[].part_of_speech` | string | `"Noun"` |  |
| `entries[].inflected_forms` | array |  |  |
| `language` | string | `"German"` |  |
| `page_url` | string | `"https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Haus"` |  |
| `etymology` | string or null | `"From Middle High German hūs, from Old High German hūs, from Proto-West Germanic *hūs, from Proto-Germanic *hūsą. Cognat` |  |
| `translations` | array |  |  |
| `translations[].words` | array |  |  |
| `translations[].language` | string | `"French"` |  |
| `pronunciations` | array |  |  |
| `pronunciations[].ipa` | string | `"[haʊ̯s]"` |  |
| `pronunciations[].accent` | string or null | `"standard"` |  |

**Example input**

```json
{
  "word": "Haus",
  "language": "German"
}
```

**Example output**

```json
{
  "word": "Haus",
  "entries": [
    {
      "definitions": [
        {
          "definition": "house, building",
          "example_sentences": [
            "In dem Haus haben wir mal gewohnt. — We used to live in that house.",
            "Mein Großvater starb in dem Haus, wo ich geboren wurde. — My grandfather died in the house where I was born."
          ]
        },
        {
          "definition": "home ( in various phrases )",
          "example_sentences": [
            "Dann gingen wir nach Hause — Then we went home."
          ]
        },
        {
          "definition": "theatre",
          "example_sentences": []
        }
      ],
      "part_of_speech": "Noun",
      "inflected_forms": [
        "Haus n ( strong, genitive Hauses, plural Häuser, diminutive Häuschen n or Häuslein n or Häuselein n or Häusle n or Häusel n or Häus'l n or Häusl n or Häusli n or Häuslin n or ( rare ) Häuselin n or Hä…"
      ]
    },
    {
      "definitions": [
        {
          "definition": "a municipality of Styria, Austria",
          "example_sentences": []
        }
      ],
      "part_of_speech": "Proper noun",
      "inflected_forms": [
        "Haus n ( proper noun, genitive Haus' or ( with an article ) Haus )"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "language": "German",
  "page_url": "https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Haus",
  "etymology": "From Middle High German hūs, from Old High German hūs, from Proto-West Germanic *hūs, from Proto-Germanic *hūsą. Cognate with Old Frisian hūs, Low German Hus, Huus, Dutch huis, Icelandic hús, Faroese …",
  "translations": [],
  "pronunciations": [
    {
      "ipa": "[haʊ̯s]",
      "accent": null
    }
  ]
}
```

## Quick start

Replace `YOUR_API_KEY` with a Fous API key. To create one, open Developers at the bottom of Fous Studio, turn on Developer mode, then go to API keys (https://app.fous.com/keys). Change the values in `input` to run the same tool on new data.

```bash
curl 'https://api.fous.com/v1/query' \
  --fail-with-body --silent --show-error --max-time 180 \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  --data-raw '{
  "api": "@wiktionary",
  "visibility": "public",
  "operation": "define_word",
  "version": 1,
  "input": {
    "word": "Haus",
    "language": "German"
  },
  "response": {
    "format": "json"
  }
}'
```

```python
# Save as fous.py and run with python3 fous.py. No packages needed.
import json
import urllib.error
import urllib.request

api_key = "YOUR_API_KEY"

body = json.loads("{\n  \"api\": \"@wiktionary\",\n  \"visibility\": \"public\",\n  \"operation\": \"define_word\",\n  \"version\": 1,\n  \"input\": {\n    \"word\": \"Haus\",\n    \"language\": \"German\"\n  },\n  \"response\": {\n    \"format\": \"json\"\n  }\n}")
request = urllib.request.Request(
    "https://api.fous.com/v1/query",
    data=json.dumps(body).encode("utf-8"),
    headers={
        "Authorization": f"Bearer {api_key}",
        "Content-Type": "application/json",
    },
    method="POST",
)
try:
    with urllib.request.urlopen(request, timeout=180) as response:
        result = json.load(response)
except urllib.error.HTTPError as error:
    raise RuntimeError(f"HTTP {error.code}: {error.read().decode('utf-8', errors='replace')}") from error
if result.get("success") is False:
    raise RuntimeError(result.get("error", {}).get("message", "Request failed"))
print(json.dumps(result["data"]["output"], indent=2))
```

```typescript
// Save as fous.mts and run with npx tsx fous.mts.
const apiKey = "YOUR_API_KEY";

const response = await fetch("https://api.fous.com/v1/query", {
  method: "POST",
  headers: {
    "Authorization": `Bearer ${apiKey}`,
    "Content-Type": "application/json",
  },
  signal: AbortSignal.timeout(180_000),
  body: JSON.stringify({
  "api": "@wiktionary",
  "visibility": "public",
  "operation": "define_word",
  "version": 1,
  "input": {
    "word": "Haus",
    "language": "German"
  },
  "response": {
    "format": "json"
  }
}),
});
type ApiResult = { success: boolean; data?: { output: unknown }; error?: { message: string } };
const result: ApiResult = await response.json();
if (!response.ok || result.success === false) {
  throw new Error(result.error?.message ?? `HTTP ${response.status}`);
}
if (!result.data) throw new Error("Missing API response data");
console.log(result.data.output);
```

## Use from an AI assistant

Connect this tool to Claude Code, Claude Desktop, Cursor, VS Code, Codex and any MCP client as its own MCP server. Each method is a typed tool whose arguments are the method’s input.

- Server URL: `https://api.fous.com/mcp/tools/wiktionary`
- Authorization: `Authorization: Bearer <Fous API key>`

**Tools**

- `define_word`: Define word. 1 credit per completed call. Failed calls without a completed billing receipt are free; completed work can remain charged if delivery is interrupted.
- `fous_get_run`: the result of a run that was still going, by its `request_id`. Free.

Claude Code:

```bash
claude mcp add --scope user --transport http fous-wiktionary https://api.fous.com/mcp/tools/wiktionary --header "Authorization: Bearer ${FOUS_API_KEY:?Set FOUS_API_KEY to your Fous API key}"
```

To give the assistant every tool, connect `https://api.fous.com/mcp`: it finds one with `fous_search_tools` and runs it with `fous_run_tool`. Setup for other clients: https://fous.com/llms-full.txt.

## Use cases

- Check meanings and examples for unfamiliar words
- Compare recorded pronunciations and accents
- Explore a word’s origin and inflected forms
- Find English word translations for localization research

## FAQ

### Can I run it with my own inputs?

Yes. Change the inputs in Studio and press Run, or send new inputs from your code, or ask a connected AI assistant.

### Can I call this Wiktionary tool as an API?

Yes. Send a POST request to /v1/query with your Fous API key and the inputs, and get JSON back.

### How much does it cost?

Each completed run costs 1 credit. Failed runs without a completed receipt are free; completed work can remain charged if delivery is interrupted. With pay as you go, a credit costs 1¢. Monthly plans cost less per credit.

### Do I need a Wiktionary account?

No. You only need a Fous account.

### How current is the data?

Fous gets the data from wiktionary.org when you run it. Some results are reused for up to 24 hours, and results that use your account or key are never reused. It was last verified on Sep 29, 2026.

### What does a word mean?

Define word returns meanings and examples for a supplied word and optional language.

### How is a word pronounced?

Define word can return recorded IPA pronunciations and accents.

### What translations are available for an English word?

Define word can return translations into up to 30 languages for English words, depending on what Wiktionary records.

## Related

- [Dictionary.com API](https://fous.com/tools/dictionary-com.md): Dictionary.com provides definitions, pronunciations, audio, examples, and word origins, plus ranked synonyms and antonyms for public Thesaurus.com entries; some word details may be unavailable.
- [Merriam-Webster API](https://fous.com/tools/merriam-webster.md): Merriam-Webster provides definitions, pronunciations, examples, word histories, synonyms, antonyms, and related words for publicly listed entries, plus Word of the Day entries for today or published archive dates.
- [Cambridge Dictionary API](https://fous.com/tools/cambridge-dictionary.md): Cambridge Dictionary provides English definitions, examples, grammar labels, and available UK and US pronunciations, plus translations and paired examples for supported languages, reflecting details shown on its pages.
- [WordReference API](https://fous.com/tools/wordreference.md): Dictionary translations and language reference.
- [Etymonline API](https://fous.com/tools/etymonline.md): Origins and histories of English words from the Online Etymology Dictionary.
- [Urban Dictionary API](https://fous.com/tools/urban-dictionary.md): Urban Dictionary provides crowdsourced slang definitions and examples, plus up to 30 newest Words of the Day with featured dates.
- [Wikipedia API](https://fous.com/tools/wikipedia.md): Wikipedia returns article summaries, images, facts, relevant search matches, readable text and daily historical events, plus human-view counts from July 2015 onward.
- [Investopedia API](https://fous.com/tools/investopedia.md): Financial education, investing explanations, and a finance dictionary.
- [All Education tools](https://fous.com/tools/category/education)