I use CaliMob, an ebook reader for reading books from a Calibre library on a phone. While reading English ebooks, I wanted a simple way to look up Malayalam meanings without leaving the book for another app. CaliMob offers dictionaries, including options in several languages, but I couldn’t find an English–Malayalam dictionary among the choices I checked.
So I looked for a way to add one. I found the open English–Malayalam dictionary dataset published by Olam, adapted the existing data into a dictionary archive that CaliMob accepts, and tested the result in the app.
Download the English–Malayalam Dictionary for CaliMob (ZIP)
A small problem while reading
When I’m reading an English ebook, there are words whose meanings I’d rather check in Malayalam. Switching between the reader and a separate dictionary interrupts the flow of reading, and I wanted a dictionary I could use directly through CaliMob’s lookup feature.
I checked the dictionaries available in CaliMob, which include several languages and some dictionaries sourced from FreeDict. I couldn’t find the English–Malayalam option I wanted. Rather than assume one wasn’t possible, I started looking into whether an existing dictionary dataset could be adapted.
Finding an existing English–Malayalam dictionary
I found the Olam English–Malayalam dataset. Olam makes this dictionary data available as an open dataset, with English entries and Malayalam definitions. The important distinction is that I didn’t write the definitions or create the original dictionary. I used Olam’s existing data as the source for a format CaliMob could use.
That seemed like a practical solution: take a useful existing resource, convert and package it for a reader that supports custom dictionaries, and share the result so other readers might benefit too.
Making the dictionary work in CaliMob
CaliMob allows dictionaries to be imported from ZIP or TAR archives. The dictionary data also needs to be arranged in a format the app understands. For this project, I prepared an archive using StarDict, a dictionary format that uses a few related files.
.ifo— stores dictionary metadata..idx— contains the index used to find entries..dictor.dict.dz— contains the dictionary definitions.
I packaged the converted dictionary files into a ZIP archive and tested the installation through CaliMob’s custom dictionary URL option. The archive installed successfully, and I was able to use it in the reader. That confirms the installation worked in my test; it doesn’t mean I have independently checked every entry or verified compatibility with every device and version of CaliMob.
How to add the English–Malayalam dictionary to CaliMob
You can install the community-created English–Malayalam dictionary archive using CaliMob’s custom dictionary URL option. Here’s the process I used:
- Copy the direct ZIP URL. Use the download address below, rather than a GitHub page that displays the file in a browser.
- Open CaliMob.
- Go to the app settings.
- Find Dictionaries under the Library tab
- Paste this direct download URL in Custom URL field:
https://github.com/melvinvarghese/English-to-Malayalam-Dictionary-for-Calimob/raw/refs/heads/main/English-to-Malayalam-Calimob-Dictionary_melvinvarghee.in.zip - Start the download and wait for CaliMob to finish installing the dictionary.
- Open an English ebook and try looking up a word to check that the dictionary is available.
If you want to inspect the files or report a problem, visit the GitHub repository. The direct ZIP link is the one to use for installation; the repository page is for project information, feedback, and issue reports.
Why I shared it
This is a small project, but it addresses a specific reading need. If you read English ebooks and prefer checking unfamiliar words in Malayalam, having a dictionary inside the reader can make that process more convenient. I thought it was worth sharing the archive rather than keeping the converted files only for my own use.
The project is available on GitHub. If the dictionary doesn’t install for you, a lookup seems incorrect, or you notice a compatibility issue, you can use the repository to share feedback. I haven’t independently verified every definition, so reports about errors are useful.
Credits and licence
The underlying English–Malayalam dictionary data comes from Olam’s open dataset, which is published under the Open Database License (ODbL). Olam is the source of the dictionary data; my contribution is the converted StarDict archive and its packaging for use with CaliMob.
This is an independent community project. The archive should not be taken as an official release or endorsement by Olam or CaliMob. Please refer to Olam’s dataset page and licence for the source data’s attribution and licence details.
Frequently asked questions
What is the English–Malayalam dictionary for CaliMob?
It is a community-created StarDict dictionary archive based on Olam’s existing English–Malayalam dataset, packaged for importing into CaliMob.
How do I install an English–Malayalam dictionary in CaliMob?
Open CaliMob’s dictionary management area, choose the custom dictionary URL option, paste the direct ZIP URL in this article, and wait for the archive to install. Then test a word lookup in an English ebook.
Does the dictionary work offline?
The archive is downloaded into CaliMob for local use, so it is intended for lookups without needing to visit the Olam website for each word. I tested installation and dictionary lookup, but have not independently tested every offline scenario or app version.
Where does the dictionary data come from?
The source is Olam’s English–Malayalam dataset, published under the Open Database License (ODbL). The converted archive is my packaging of that existing data, not an original dictionary written by me.
Where can I download the dictionary?
Download the English–Malayalam Dictionary for CaliMob (ZIP). Use this direct ZIP link in CaliMob’s custom dictionary URL field.
A small fix for a reading habit
I started with a simple gap in my reading setup: I wanted to check Malayalam meanings while reading English ebooks in CaliMob. Finding Olam’s existing dataset and converting it into a compatible archive gave me a way to do that, and sharing it means other Malayalam-speaking readers can try it too.
Download the English–Malayalam Dictionary for CaliMob (ZIP) · View the project on GitHub
