# Install enchant with Homebrew, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, zypper, apt Spellchecker wrapping library. Version 2.8.19 via Homebrew; verified 2026-07-07. ## Install ```sh sudo av install brew:enchant ``` Additional install commands: ### macOS - Homebrew (100%): ```sh brew install enchant ``` Evidence: local Homebrew formula metadata - MacPorts (94%): ```sh sudo port install enchant ``` Evidence: MacPorts ports tree: textproc/enchant/Portfile from https://api.github.com/repos/macports/macports-ports/git/trees/master?recursive=1 ### Linux - dnf (92%): ```sh sudo dnf install enchant ``` Evidence: Fedora Rawhide package metadata: enchant from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst - Nix (92%): ```sh nix profile install nixpkgs#enchant ``` Evidence: nixpkgs package indexes: enchant from https://raw.githubusercontent.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/master/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix - pacman (92%): ```sh sudo pacman -S enchant ``` Evidence: Arch Linux sync databases: enchant from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz - zypper (92%): ```sh sudo zypper install enchant-2-backend-aspell ``` Evidence: openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: enchant-2-backend-aspell from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst - Debian apt (92%): ```sh sudo apt install enchant-2 ``` Evidence: Debian stable package indexes: enchant-2 from https://deb.debian.org/debian/dists/stable/main/binary-amd64/Packages.xz ## Package facts - **Package key:** brew:enchant - **Package manager:** Homebrew - **Package manager page:** - **Version:** 2.8.19 - **Source summary:** Spellchecker wrapping library - **Homepage:** - **Repository:** - **Upstream docs:** - **License:** LGPL-2.1-or-later - **Source archive:** - **Last updated:** 2026-07-07T12:53:27Z - **Generated:** 2026-07-08T07:18:31+00:00 ## Executables - enchant-2 (cli) - enchant-lsmod-2 (cli) - enchant-2 (alias) - enchant-lsmod-2 (alias) ## Dependencies - aspell - gettext - glib ## Build dependencies - groff - pkgconf ## Install behavior - Post-install hook: not defined - Bottle: available on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, x86_64_linux ## Freshness - Page generated: 2026-07-08 - Package-manager version: 2.8.19 - Package-manager updated: 2026-07-07 - Local data: ok - Upstream repository: https://github.com/rrthomas/enchant - info: No cached GitHub release or tag data was available. ## Project history and usage Enchant is a provider-neutral spell-checking library and command-line program. Its purpose is to let applications use Hunspell, Nuspell, Aspell, Hspell, Voikko, AppleSpell, Zemberek, and other providers through one consistent interface. ### Project history Enchant began in the AbiWord ecosystem; the project homepage credits Dom Lachowicz and says older versions remain available from the AbiSource website. The NEWS file shows a long 1.x history, including 1.6.0 in 2010, followed by 2.0.0 in 2017. In 2025, release 2.8.3 marked Enchant's move from the defunct AbiWord project to direct maintenance by Reuben Thomas. The same release also rewrote the two command-line utilities in Vala and noted that Enchant's core had moved to Vala while providers remained a mix of C, C++, and Objective-C++. ### Adoption history Enchant became valuable because desktop and editor software need spell checking without hard-coding one spelling engine. The project homepage lists GNU Emacs as of version 27.1, AbiWord, LyX, and Gtk/GNOME applications through gspell and GtkSpell as users. The backend list also explains why distributions package it carefully: language-specific and platform-specific spell checkers can coexist behind one API, so a package manager can wire applications to available dictionaries and providers without each application growing its own compatibility layer. ### How it is used Application developers link against libenchant through C or C++ bindings, while users and scripts can call `enchant-2` for Ispell-compatible non-interactive spell checking. `enchant-lsmod-2` reports available providers and dictionaries. Configuration is documented through the `enchant(5)` man page, which controls provider selection by language and personal word lists. That makes Enchant both a developer library and a small user-facing CLI package. ### Why package nerds care Enchant is package-nerd glue: it does not win by having the best dictionary itself, but by keeping spell-checking consumers decoupled from provider churn. It is the kind of library that makes desktop text stacks less brittle across Linux, BSD, macOS, and language-specific dictionary packages. Its current NEWS also shows the maintenance burden typical of ecosystem glue packages: recent releases fix provider crashes, command-line compatibility, personal word list behavior, relocatability, and editor-facing quirks rather than flashy features. ### Timeline - Early releases: Enchant originated under the AbiWord/AbiSource umbrella. - 2010: Enchant 1.6.0 released. - 2017: Enchant 2.0.0 released. - 2025: Enchant 2.8.3 moved maintenance from defunct AbiWord affiliation to Reuben Thomas. - 2026: Enchant 2.8.x releases continued active maintenance for CLI and provider behavior. ### Related projects - Hunspell, Nuspell, GNU Aspell, Hspell, Voikko, AppleSpell, and Zemberek are documented spell-checking backends. - AbiWord, GNU Emacs, LyX, gspell, and GtkSpell are listed users or integration paths. - Python, Rust, Go, Common Lisp, C, C++, and Vala bindings or language connections are documented on the project homepage. ### Sources - - - - - ## Security Notes library-like package without higher-risk signals. - **Geiger risk:** green / low - library-like package without higher-risk signals ## Source Database Details - **Source Database:** Homebrew formula API - **Tap:** homebrew/core - **Full Name:** enchant - **Version Scheme:** 0 - **Revision:** 0 - **Bottle Stable Root URL:** - **Deprecated:** no - **Disabled:** no - **Keg Only:** no - **URL Keys:** stable ## Other Package-Manager Records - Nix - enchant: normalized package name match | nixpkgs package indexes: enchant from https://raw.githubusercontent.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/master/pkgs/top-level/all-packages.nix - dnf - enchant - 1.6.0-41.fc44: normalized package name match | Fedora Rawhide package metadata: enchant from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst | An Enchanting Spell Checking Library | http://www.abisource.com/ - dnf - enchant-devel - 1.6.0-41.fc44: normalized package name match | Fedora Rawhide package metadata: enchant-devel from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst | Support files necessary to compile applications with libenchant. | http://www.abisource.com/ - dnf - enchant-voikko - 1.6.0-41.fc44: normalized package name match | Fedora Rawhide package metadata: enchant-voikko from https://dl.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/development/rawhide/Everything/x86_64/os/repodata/e5ca8ce900cd68f5419e1c39ae517343100b306336cbaeb70a3c153121d95094-primary.xml.zst | Integration with voikko for libenchant | http://www.abisource.com/ - pacman - enchant - 2.8.15-2: normalized package name match | Arch Linux sync databases: enchant from https://geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com/extra/os/x86_64/extra.db.tar.gz | A wrapper library for generic spell checking | https://rrthomas.github.io/enchant/ - zypper - enchant-2-backend-aspell - 2.8.15-1.2: normalized package name match | openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: enchant-2-backend-aspell from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst | Aspell backend for the Enchant spell checking library | https://rrthomas.github.io/enchant/ - zypper - enchant-2-backend-hunspell - 2.8.15-1.2: normalized package name match | openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: enchant-2-backend-hunspell from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst | Hunspell backend for the Enchant spell checking library | https://rrthomas.github.io/enchant/ - zypper - enchant-2-backend-nuspell - 2.8.15-1.2: normalized package name match | openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: enchant-2-backend-nuspell from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst | Nuspell backend for the Enchant spell checking library | https://rrthomas.github.io/enchant/ - zypper - enchant-2-backend-voikko - 2.8.15-1.2: normalized package name match | openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: enchant-2-backend-voikko from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst | Voikko backend for the Enchant spell checking library | https://rrthomas.github.io/enchant/ - zypper - enchant-2-backend-voikko-32bit - 2.8.15-1.2: normalized package name match | openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: enchant-2-backend-voikko-32bit from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst | Voikko backend for the Enchant spell checking library | https://rrthomas.github.io/enchant/ - zypper - enchant-data - 2.8.15-1.2: normalized package name match | openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: enchant-data from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst | Data files for libenchant | https://rrthomas.github.io/enchant/ - zypper - enchant-devel - 2.8.15-1.2: normalized package name match | openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: enchant-devel from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst | Development files for the Enchant spell checking library | https://rrthomas.github.io/enchant/ - zypper - enchant-tools - 2.8.15-1.2: normalized package name match | openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: enchant-tools from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst | Command line tools for the Enchant spell checking library | https://rrthomas.github.io/enchant/ - zypper - libenchant-2-2 - 2.8.15-1.2: normalized package name match | openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: libenchant-2-2 from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst | Generic Spell Checking Library | https://rrthomas.github.io/enchant/ - zypper - libenchant-2-2-32bit - 2.8.15-1.2: normalized package name match | openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: libenchant-2-2-32bit from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst | Generic Spell Checking Library | https://rrthomas.github.io/enchant/ - zypper - libenchant1 - 1.6.1-8.6: normalized package name match | openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata: libenchant1 from https://download.opensuse.org/tumbleweed/repo/oss/repodata/be8d3611d25469107f32075a1697e69ec57a2b850b42348a658cc671ad5ec2b50760d02c3e59524d50da9a11d5be799bdaffba2e166e8ca8858512e3c0bd665d-primary.xml.zst | Generic Spell Checking Library | https://abiword.github.io/enchant/ ## Related links - [Source-control packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/source-control-tools/) - Belongs to a source-control command family. - [Terminal utility packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/terminal-utilities/) - Matched terminal and command-line workflow metadata. - [Text processing packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/text-processing-tools/) - Matched text, document, or structured-data processing metadata. - [Developer build packages](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/developer-build-tools/) - Matched build, compiler, generator, or developer workflow metadata. - [aspell](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/aspell/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [gettext](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/gettext/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [glib](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/glib/) - Runtime dependency declared by Homebrew. - [groff](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/groff/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew. - [pkgconf](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/pkgconf/) - Build dependency declared by Homebrew. - [cherrytree](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/cherrytree/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [gspell](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/gspell/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [pan](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/pan/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [webkitgtk](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/webkitgtk/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [weechat](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/weechat/) - Popular package that depends on this formula. - [gflags](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/gflags/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: c, cli, developer-tools, library. - [lunar-date](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/lunar-date/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: c, cli, developer-tools, library. - [notcurses](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/notcurses/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: c, cli, developer-tools, library. - [kokkos](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/kokkos/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: c-plus-plus, cli, developer-tools, library. - [libvterm](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/libvterm/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, library. - [aarch64-elf-gcc](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/aarch64-elf-gcc/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: c, c-plus-plus, cli, developer-tools. - [astyle](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/astyle/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: c, c-plus-plus, cli, developer-tools. - [bsdconv](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/bsdconv/) - Shares av.db curated category or tags: cli, developer-tools, library, text-processing. - [rpl](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/rpl/) - Local package facts share a topical domain. Shared terms: cli, developer, developer-tools, gettext, glib. - [skktools](https://www.automicvault.com/pkg/brew/skktools/) - Local package facts share a topical domain. Shared terms: cli, developer, developer-tools, gettext, glib. ## Combined YAML source View the package source record on GitHub. [combined/enchant.yml](https://github.com/automic-vault/db/blob/main/combined/enchant.yml) ## Sources - Nucleus package database - Geiger risk classifier - package-page enrichment - curated package history - package version freshness - av.db category and tag curation - package relationship graph - external package-manager database matches - cross-ecosystem install command graph