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Voice typing in Neovim

Neovim's modal editing and dictation get along badly unless you are deliberate about it. Hold a key and talk: Typally transcribes and types it into Neovim without you touching the keyboard.

Yes, we build Typally. That is also why the section on Neovim's built-in option is honest: people who switch after trying both are the ones who stay.
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In short

  • Neovim's own dictation: None. Plugins exist, and the ecosystem being what it is, several of them are good.
  • What Typally does instead: works above the app rather than inside it — Neovim sees ordinary typed text.
  • Best used for: commit messages

Does Neovim have built-in dictation?

None. Plugins exist, and the ecosystem being what it is, several of them are good.

Why dictate in Neovim at all?

Modal editing is the point of Neovim: keystrokes are commands unless you are in insert mode. Text arriving from outside while you are in normal mode does not get typed, it gets executed, which can be destructive.

In practice people use it for: Commit messages, markdown documents, code comments, README files, and notes in a scratch buffer.

How to dictate in Neovim

There is no Neovim extension or add-in involved — Typally behaves like a very fast keyboard:

1

Install Typally

Windows or macOS, then sign in. No card for the free tier.

2

Put the cursor in the Neovim field you are filling

Click first. Typally types into Neovim wherever the caret already is, with no idea what that field is for.

3

Press and speak

Hold, talk, release. Long passages are fine.

4

Read it before you move on

Dictating in normal mode runs your words as commands. A stray 'd' plus a motion deletes text. Check the mode indicator before starting.

What Typally adds in Neovim

Typally types into whichever buffer has focus, which in Neovim means one rule matters above all: press i first. In insert mode a dictated commit message or markdown paragraph lands normally; in normal mode your words are editing commands, and a stray 'd' plus a motion deletes text. Watch the mode indicator and it is safe.

What this looks like in practice

A developer writing a long commit message in Neovim gets in the habit of pressing i and watching the mode line before speaking. After the first week it is automatic, and commit messages go from one line to five.

One habit that makes it work better

Enter insert mode before you speak, every time, without exception. This is the one app where forgetting has real consequences.

What to watch out for in Neovim

Dictating in normal mode runs your words as commands. A stray 'd' plus a motion deletes text. Check the mode indicator before starting.

Frequently asked questions

Is dictation safe in Neovim?

Only in insert mode. In normal mode your words are interpreted as editing commands.

Can I dictate a git commit message in Neovim?

Yes, when Neovim is your git editor — press i first, then dictate.

Are there Neovim dictation plugins?

Yes, several. A system-level tool works without configuring anything, provided you mind the mode.

Try it in Neovim

There is a permanent free tier of 100 minutes a month. Pro costs $7.99/month and raises the limit.

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Also dictate in: Emacs · Terminal · Sublime Text · see all apps