What’s the easiest way to build a searchable online dictionary for a small language?

With only about 700 entries, you probably don’t need a complicated search system. Store the words and definitions in a JavaScript array or a JSON file, then filter that list as the visitor types. A searchable select component such as Tom Select could also provide suggestions and link each result to its own definition page. This is inexpensive and fast, although someone will need to understand the code when entries are added or edited.

This could be a great beginner web-development project, but preserving the language is broader than just publishing a word list. Consider contacting a university linguistics department or language-preservation group. They may be able to help document pronunciation, grammar, variations, and usage, as well as advise on how to store the data so it remains accessible in the future.

The search box itself is fairly easy; the bigger decisions are how the entries are stored and maintained. Think about whether results should appear while typing, whether every word needs its own page, how often the content will change, and where the site will be hosted. A JSON file is a reasonable middle ground for a small project. A database and server-side search become more useful if the dictionary grows or several people need to edit it.

If you want to avoid building the search functionality from scratch, use a content management system with one entry per word. A custom content type or similar structure gives each word its own page, while the system’s search can index those entries. You may need an autocomplete extension or a small configuration change, but this is probably easier to maintain than manually creating a separate HTML page for every entry.