Read real books in the language you're learning.
Import any book. Tap a word for an instant, in-context translation. Grow your vocabulary at your own pace — no streaks, no nagging, no pressure.
In active development — built in the open by one person.
The trouble with most apps
Most language apps weren't built for people who actually want to read.
You get short, graded baby-sentences instead of real books. You get tools that assume English is your native language. And you get streaks and notifications designed to make you feel guilty — not fluent. Sideword Reader takes the opposite approach.
How it works
Reading you can actually understand.
Three quiet steps. The book stays the center of attention — everything else gets out of the way.
Import your book
Bring your own EPUB or TXT file and read the stories you genuinely care about, at a level that's right for you.
Tap any word
Tap a word you don't know and get an instant, in-context translation — without ever leaving the page or losing your place.
Remember it
Save words as you go and review them later with flashcards, so the vocabulary you meet while reading actually sticks.
Why it's different
Built around the reader, not the dopamine.
Two convictions shape everything in Sideword Reader.
Your language, not just English
Most reading tools quietly assume you speak English. Sideword Reader is built to support non-English base languages — so you can learn a new language through the one you already think in.
Calm by design
No streaks to protect. No notifications guilt-tripping you at night. No leaderboards. Just you, a good book, and steady progress on your own terms.
A growing library
More languages with every release.
Sideword Reader is expanding fast. These are available or arriving soon — and the list keeps growing.
The part that makes Sideword Reader special: uncommon language pairings. Learn a Romance language with Ukrainian as your base, or mix and match in ways most apps simply don't offer.
Where this is
I'm building this in the open.
Hi — I'm Victoria. Sideword Reader is an independent project I'm designing and building myself, for people who learn best by reading. I wanted a calm, honest tool that respects your attention instead of competing for it.
It's still in active development. Right now I'm focused on the core reading experience and adding languages, with cloud sync and spaced-repetition review planned for the road ahead.
If that sounds like something you'd use, the best things you can do are tell me what you'd want from it and help keep the project moving.
— Victoria
Support & contact
Help keep Sideword Reader growing.
There's no big company behind this — just one person and a lot of evenings. If you have ideas, questions, or just want to say hello, I'd love to hear from you.
Questions
Good to know.
What is Sideword Reader?+
A web-based reading app for language learners. You import your own books, tap any word for an in-context translation, save vocabulary as you read, and review it later with flashcards.
Can I read my own books?+
Yes. Import EPUB and TXT files and read real books at your level — not just short, simplified graded sentences.
Which languages does it support?+
A growing library, with more added in every release. A core focus is supporting non-English base languages and uncommon pairings, so you can learn through the language you already know.
Does it have streaks or gamification?+
No — and that's on purpose. There are no streaks, no daily nagging, and no pressure tactics. Just calm, self-paced reading.
What does it cost?+
It's in active development and free to try. A low-cost subscription with cloud sync and spaced-repetition review is planned.