Fact · Dictation on Mac
In Apple's Voice Control settings, the Vocabulary option is dimmed when the selected language does not support a custom vocabulary, so you cannot add terms in that language.
Checked against its source on October 16, 2026
In the source's own words
“If the option is dimmed, the selected language doesn’t support a custom vocabulary.”
Use a custom vocabulary with Voice Control on Mac, Apple, Apple Support (Mac User Guide), 2026, Add individual vocabulary terms.
Open the original- What it measures
- Apple's steps tell you to click Vocabulary in Voice Control settings. A dimmed option is the page's signal that the selected language cannot hold custom terms, so check the language first.
- What it does not show
- Which languages support a custom vocabulary can change between macOS versions. Check the Vocabulary option on your own Mac.