> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://www.algolia.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Customize plurals and other declensions

> Learn how to customize declension dictionaries through the Algolia dashboard.

Depending on the language, words can come in different *declensions*:

* Number: singular or plural
* Gender: masculine, feminine, neutral
* Case: nominative, accusative, genitive

The [`ignorePlurals`](/doc/api-reference/api-parameters/ignorePlurals) parameter controls whether Algolia treats these variations as equivalent.
Turn it on if your users search with declined forms.
The index's [query language](/doc/guides/managing-results/optimize-search-results/handling-natural-languages-nlp/how-to/how-to-set-an-index-query-language) decides which dictionaries apply: with English, the queries "shirt" and "shirts" return the same results.

Algolia provides a built-in declension dictionary for each [supported language](/doc/guides/managing-results/optimize-search-results/handling-natural-languages-nlp/in-depth/supported-languages), and you can add your own declensions in the [Algolia dashboard](https://dashboard.algolia.com/dictionaries/declensions?lang=en).

**Each Algolia application uses one declension dictionary per language.**
To create equivalences for one index only, use [synonyms](/doc/guides/managing-results/optimize-search-results/adding-synonyms) instead.

## Open a declension dictionary

Whenever you want to inspect, add, or customize declined forms, start with these steps.

1. Go to the [Algolia dashboard](https://dashboard.algolia.com/explorer/browse) and select your Algolia application (An Algolia application is a self-contained environment with its own indices, configuration, and API keys. Applications don't share data or settings with each other.).
2. In the left sidebar, select  **Search**.
3. Go to the [**Dictionaries**](https://dashboard.algolia.com/dictionaries/declensions?lang=en) page.
4. Select the language you want to customize.
5. Select the **Plurals & Other Declensions** tab.

## Inspect declined forms

[Open a declension dictionary](#open-a-declension-dictionary), then search for a word.
The equivalents Algolia provides, and any you added, appear below the search box.

> [!NOTE]
>
> The search box doesn't have typo tolerance.

## Create custom declensions

1. [Open a declension dictionary](#open-a-declension-dictionary).
2. Search for the word.
3. If no entry exists, select  **Create a new list**.
4. Enter each word to treat as an equivalent, then select **Save**.
5. Select **Review and Save**.

## Customize equivalents

A built-in declension may miss a form your users search with, or treat two words as equivalent when your catalog needs them apart.

To edit equivalents:

1. [Open a declension dictionary](#open-a-declension-dictionary).
2. Search for the word.
3. Select  **Edit**.
4. Add or remove equivalents.
5. Select **Save**, then select **Review and Save**.

Editing a built-in declension creates a custom one, and the built-in declension remains.
**If a custom declension contains a word of a built-in declension, the built-in declension no longer applies to any of its words.**
For example, the custom declension "hose, hosen" replaces the German built-in declension "hose, hosen, höschen, höschens".
The words "höschen" and "höschens" then no longer match "hose" or each other.
To keep two forms equivalent, add both to a custom declension.

## Delete custom declensions

You can only delete custom declensions, and a declension can't be empty.
To stop a built-in declension from matching other forms, edit it and leave only the word itself.

To delete custom declensions:

1. [Open a declension dictionary](#open-a-declension-dictionary).
2. Search for the word.
3. Select  **Delete**.
4. Select **Review and Save**.

## Upload and download customizations

[Open a declension dictionary](#open-a-declension-dictionary), then select  **Actions**:

* To upload your own list, select **Upload your declensions list**.
* To export what you added, select **Download your declensions list as JSON** or **as CSV**.

### Upload format

```csv CSV theme={"system"}
language,words,objectID,type
de,"hund,hunde,hunds,hunden,hundes,hundchen,hundchens",1,custom
```

```json JSON theme={"system"}
[
  {
    "language": "de",
    "words": [
      "hund",
      "hunde",
      "hunds",
      "hunden",
      "hundes",
      "hundchen",
      "hundchens"
    ],
    "objectID": 1,
    "type": "custom"
  }
]
```

Don't put a space after a comma.
The dashboard matches the header row character for character, so ` words` doesn't match `words`, and the upload skips the rows it can't match.
In CSV, put the equivalents in one quoted, comma-separated list.

## Manage declensions programmatically

The dashboard isn't the only way to customize a dictionary:

* Algolia CLI: the [`algolia dictionary entries`](/doc/tools/cli/commands/dictionary/entries) commands
* API clients: [save](/doc/libraries/sdk/v1/methods/save-dictionary-entries), [search](/doc/libraries/sdk/v1/methods/search-dictionary-entries), [delete](/doc/libraries/sdk/v1/methods/delete-dictionary-entries), and [clear](/doc/libraries/sdk/v1/methods/clear-dictionary-entries) dictionary entries
* Search API: [add or delete dictionary entries](/doc/rest-api/search/batch-dictionary-entries), [search dictionary entries](/doc/rest-api/search/search-dictionary-entries)