pyphen
Pure Python module to hyphenate text
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes. Pyphen is a lightweight, actively maintained library with no runtime dependencies, zero known vulnerabilities, and broad language support via included dictionaries. The copyleft license is straightforward if your project can accommodate GPL/LGPL/MPL terms. Install it if you need reliable hyphenation for text layout or formatting.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Requires Python 3.10 or later; CPython and PyPy are supported.
- Low friction: pure Python wheel with no runtime dependencies.
- Actively maintained with a release on 2026-08-13 and recent commits.
License · maintenance · safety
copyleft license (copyleft) — Copyleft license (GPL 2.0+, LGPL 2.1+, or MPL 1.1). Code contributions are automatically licensed under these terms. Dictionaries bundled with the package carry their own GPL/LGPL/MPL licensing from LibreOffice.
last release 2026-08-13 (1 days) · last repo commit 2026-08-13 · 230 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 35,518,377 downloads/mo, #745 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install pyphen
from pyphen import Pyphen
dicta = Pyphen(lang='en_US')
print(dicta.inserted('hyphenation'))- Whether included dictionaries cover all languages needed for your use case
- Performance characteristics when hyphenating large volumes of text
What it is and what it does
Pyphen is a pure Python hyphenation library that uses Hunspell dictionaries to break words at syllable boundaries for text layout and formatting. It includes dictionaries for multiple languages sourced from LibreOffice and requires no external compiled dependencies—just Python 3.10 or later.
The package is actively maintained by Kozea and Courtbouillon, with professional support available. It works on both CPython and PyPy. The code and bundled dictionaries are distributed under copyleft licenses (GPL 2.0+, LGPL 2.1+, or MPL 1.1), which means any derivative work must comply with those terms.
Use it for
- Justify text in document generation or typesetting systems by inserting hyphens at valid word breaks
- Format text for fixed-width displays or constrained layouts where word wrapping alone is insufficient
- Prepare multilingual content for publishing workflows that require proper hyphenation
- Build text processing pipelines that need language-aware syllable breaking without external system libraries
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes.
Pyphen is a lightweight, actively maintained library with no runtime dependencies, zero known vulnerabilities, and broad language support via included dictionaries. The copyleft license is straightforward if your project can accommodate GPL/LGPL/MPL terms. Install it if you need reliable hyphenation for text layout or formatting.
Install
pyphen on PyPI
Before you install
Low friction: pure Python wheel with no runtime dependencies. Actively maintained with a release on 2026-08-13 and recent commits. Requires Python 3.10 or later.
Requires Python 3.10 or later; CPython and PyPy are supported.
License in practice
Copyleft license (GPL 2.0+, LGPL 2.1+, or MPL 1.1). Code contributions are automatically licensed under these terms. Dictionaries bundled with the package carry their own GPL/LGPL/MPL licensing from LibreOffice.
Quickstart
pip install pyphen
from pyphen import Pyphen
dicta = Pyphen(lang='en_US')
print(dicta.inserted('hyphenation'))Verify before relying
- Whether included dictionaries cover all languages needed for your use case
- Performance characteristics when hyphenating large volumes of text
Package facts
| License | copyleft license copyleft |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release >=3.10 |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | None |
| Maintenance | Actively maintained 1 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 35,518,377 / month, #745 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 4 - BetaIntended Audience :: DevelopersLicense :: OSI Approved :: GNU General Public License v2 or later (GPLv2+)License :: OSI Approved :: GNU Lesser General Public License v2 or later (LGPLv2+)License :: OSI Approved :: Mozilla Public License 1.1 (MPL 1.1)Programming Language :: PythonProgramming Language :: Python :: 3Programming Language :: Python :: 3.10Programming Language :: Python :: 3.11Programming Language :: Python :: 3.12Programming Language :: Python :: 3.13Programming Language :: Python :: 3.14Programming Language :: Python :: Implementation :: CPythonProgramming Language :: Python :: Implementation :: PyPyTopic :: Text ProcessingTopic :: Text Processing :: Linguistic |
Evidence: pyphen-0.18.0-py3-none-any.whl
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