---
name: "sdcv"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "sdcv"
version: "0.5.5-2"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/sdcv"
---

# sdcv(1)

console version of StarDict program

## NAME

sdcv - console version of StarDict program

## SYNOPSIS

**sdcv** \[  **options** \]  \[list of words\]

## DESCRIPTION

*sdcv* is a simple, cross-platform text-based utility for working with dictionaries in StarDict format. Each word from "list of words" may be a string with a leading '/' for using a Fuzzy search algorithm, with a leading '\|' for using full-text search, and the string may contain '?' and '\*' for regexp search. It works in interactive and non-interactive mode. To exit from interactive mode press Ctrl+D.  In interactive mode,  if sdcv was compiled with readline library support, you can use the UP and DOWN keys to cycle through history.

## OPTIONS

- **-h --help**

  Display help message and exit

- **-v --version**

  Display version and exit

- **-l --list-dicts**

  Display list of available dictionaries and exit

- **-u --use-dict filename**

  For search use only dictionary with this bookname

- **-n --non-interactive**

  For use in scripts

- **-x --only-data-dir**

  For use in scripts: only use the dictionaries in data-dir, do not search in user and system directories

- **-e --exact-search**

  Do not fuzzy-search for similar words, only return exact matches

- **-j --json**

  Print the results of list-dicts and searches as json, not as plain text. For use in automatically processing the results of a dictionary lookup.

- **--utf8-output**

  Force sdcv to not convert to locale charset, output in utf8

- **--utf8-input**

  Force sdcv to not convert from locale charset, assume that input is in utf8

- **--data-dir path/to/directory**

  Use this directory as the path to the stardict data directory. This means that sdcv searches for dictionaries in data-dir/dic directory.

- **--color**

  Use ANSI escape codes for colorizing sdcv output (does not work with json output).

## FILES

- /usr/share/stardict/dic

  - $(XDG\_DATA\_HOME)/stardict/dic

  Place where sdcv expects to find dictionaries. Instead of /usr/share/stardict/dic you can use any directory you want, just set the STARDICT\_DATA\_DIR environment variable. For example, if you have dictionaries in /mnt/data/stardict-dicts/dic, set STARDICT\_DATA\_DIR to /mnt/data/stardict-dicts.

- $(XDG\_DATA\_HOME)/sdcv\_history

  This file includes the last $(SDCV\_HISTSIZE) words, which you sought with sdcv. SDCV uses this file only if it was compiled with readline library support.

- $(XDG\_CONFIG\_HOME)/sdcv\_ordering

  This is a text file containing one dictionary bookname per line. It specifies in which order the results of a search should be shown.

## ENVIRONMENT

Environment Variables Used By *sdcv*:

- **STARDICT\_DATA\_DIR**

  If set, sdcv uses this variable as the data directory, this means that sdcv searches dictionaries in $**STARDICT\_DATA\_DIR**/dic

- **SDCV\_HISTSIZE**

  If set, sdcv writes in $(XDG\_DATA\_HOME)/sdcv\_history (or $(SDCV\_HISTFILE)) the last $(SDCV\_HISTSIZE) words, which you look up using sdcv. If it is not set, then the last 2000 words are saved in $(XDG\_DATA\_HOME)/sdcv\_history.

- **SDCV\_HISTFILE**

  If set, sdcv writes it's history to $(SDCV\_HISTFILE). If it is not set, then the default $(XDG\_DATA\_HOME)/sdcv\_history path will be used.

- **SDCV\_PAGER**

  If SDCV\_PAGER is set, its value is used as the name of the program to use to display the dictionary article.

## BUGS

Email bug reports to dushistov at mail dot ru. Be sure to include the word "sdcv" somewhere in the "Subject:" field.

## AUTHORS

Evgeniy A. Dushistov, Hu Zheng

## SEE ALSO

[stardict(1)](/stardict/1.md), http://sdcv.sourceforge.net/, http://stardict.sourceforge.net