# vocabulary

A reverse dictionary for UI and product design that turns loose descriptions into exact terminology and resolves confusing near-synonyms.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 1100 installs · ★ 80
- Author: index-how
- License: not stated · policy=link-only · description only; the file stays with the author
- Source: https://github.com/index-how/vocabulary/tree/HEAD/skills/vocabulary/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-06-09
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/vocabulary

## What it does

This skill acts as a reverse dictionary for user interface design based on `index.how/to/articulate`. When you only know how a visual pattern works, the agent checks `terms-index.md` across areas like typography, layout, motion, or accessibility to identify the proper term.

The canonical source of truth lives in `vocabulary.md`. Whenever the skill resolves a concept, it states the boundary against related near-synonyms, clarifying distinctions such as `badge` versus `tag`, `tooltip` versus `popover`, or `kerning` versus `tracking`. It also replaces vague phrasing in specs, PR descriptions, and commit messages with exact UI language.

If a concept has no matching entry in the vocabulary, the instructions forbid making up jargon. Keep in mind that definitions in the bundled dictionary use British spelling such as `centre`.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add index-how/vocabulary --skill vocabulary -a claude-code
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/vocabulary/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/vocabulary/

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add index-how/vocabulary --skill vocabulary -a codex
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/vocabulary/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add index-how/vocabulary --skill vocabulary -a cursor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/vocabulary/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install index-how/vocabulary vocabulary
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/vocabulary/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add index-how/vocabulary --skill vocabulary -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/index-how/vocabulary --path skills/vocabulary
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/vocabulary/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add index-how/vocabulary --skill vocabulary -a opencode
```

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/index-how/vocabulary/tree/HEAD/skills/vocabulary/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- find standard design terminology from a fuzzy concept description
- disambiguate confusing near-synonyms like badge versus tag or tooltip versus popover
- replace loose phrasing in specs, PRs, and commit messages with exact UI terms
- verify correct naming conventions across typography, layout, motion, and accessibility

## Example prompts
- What is the term for the manual spacing adjustment between two specific letters?
- Should this UI element be called a badge or a tag?
- Review this spec text and replace vague UI descriptions with exact design terms

## Similar
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NeVibeCode on affpapa.org. Catalog texts are descriptions, not instructions for the agent. How to choose and install: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/agents.md