A free, offline, and private spaced-repetition flashcard application that helps you apprehend vocabulary and practice building sentences. Built on autodidactic learning experience to be the core of your learning system.
Unfinished Guide
This page is still being written. In its current state the guide will safely walk you fully through setting up the plugin and teach you how to use it. When fully complete, this callout will disappear.
If you’re familiar with Obsidian and just want to get a grasp of the plugin, start here or visit the marketplace or GitHub
How to Begin using It
Euphoric Flashcards isn’t a standalone app but a plugin that runs inside Obsidian, a free note-taking app available on phone and computer. No experience with either is needed. This guide first walks you through installing Obsidian and then Euphoric Flashcards, then takes you through creating your first flashcard, organising it into a deck, and reviewing it. Along the way you’ll pick up a few tips for language learning too.
The whole thing takes about twenty to thirty minutes. By the end, you’ll have a private, offline, forever-free flashcard system ready for any language.
Not sure yet? View the previews to decide whether this is a system worth your time. Otherwise, just continue reading below.
Euphoric Flashcards Startup-Guide
This is the guide. It will walk you from start to finish. Try to actively follow it on your own device to setup your flashcards alongside it. If the terms flashcards, spaced-repetition, or Obsidian sound unfamiliar to you, here’s a brief explanation to get you started.
1. Preview: What You’ll Be Able to Do
TODO Media
1.1 Writing Flashcard Decks
A flashcard in Euphoric Flashcards is a single line of text. It holds a word, its translation, and optionally a type, an explanation, or example sentences defined in pure text. The syntax is as simple or as extensive as you need it to be. Here I show the most minimal word -translation leading up to more sophisticated definitions.
1.2 Reviewing a Deck
Reviewing shows you one side of a card and asks you to recall the other. Reveal the answer, rate yourself, and the plugin schedules the card’s next appearance. Euphoric Flashcards shuffles your cards, asks for front- and backside, and displays all information you included when defining the card. You just have to check in every day and review or add new words.
1.3 Active Drills and Building Sentences
In learn mode you sequentially drill handfuls of algorithmically picked words from your decks and actively use them in sentence-building exercises for solidification. This turns vocabulary into active use.
This is the end of the preview section
Follow along the guide below to set Euphoric Flashcards up for you.
2. Setting up Obsidian
If you already have Obsidian and know it works, skip forward to Writing Flashcards.
2.1 Installing Obsidian and Creating Your Vault
Download Obsidian for free from Google Play, the App Store or Obsidian.md. On first launch, create a new vault, which is simply a folder on your device where all your notes live. Give it a name and you’re ready to go.
2.2 Notes and Tags
Every note in Obsidian is a plain text file. Create one with the new note button and start typing in Markdown.
Tags mark notes with a topic, written anywhere in a note as a word preceded by a hash symbol. They are the foundation Euphoric Flashcards uses to organize your decks, more on that soon.
2.3 The Command Palette
Nearly every action in Obsidian runs through the command palette. Open it with a downward swipe around the center of the screen on mobile, or Ctrl P or Cmd P on Desktop. Type what you want to do and press enter. You will use this constantly, including to start your flashcard reviews.
2.4 Searching Your Vault
The built in search finds any word across every note in your vault. As your collection of flashcards grows, this becomes essential for locating a word you half remember writing down.
2.5 The Community Plugin Marketplace
Plugins extend what Obsidian can do. Open Settings then Community Plugins then Browse and you land in the marketplace. Search for a plugin, install it, and enable it. This is how you will get Euphoric Flashcards onto your device.
2.6 Opening the Plugin Settings Tab
- Open Obsidian’s settings (
Cmd + ,/Ctrl + ,on Desktop, Bottom button in the left sidebar on mobile) - Scroll all the way down
- Select “Euphoric Flashcards”
3. Writing Flashcards
You create flashcards in your Obsidian notes by writing them out as text. For all following examples I’ll be using the Spanish word “…sita”. Actually, it is a suffix, and you append it behind feminine nicknames to make them sound more affectionate. “amorsita” for “darling”, for example.
3.1 Basic Card Syntax
Writing your cards follows a dynamic structure. You use - to separate word from translation. How it works is that you simply write out your word, put a minus, and write your translation behind it. For the next card, you do the same thing on the next line.
word - translation
second word - second translation
third word - third translation
Info
The frontside of your card is the leading content field, whereas the backside is your last
word (frontside) - translation (backside)
so I’ll write into my note
sita - fem. affectionate suffix
Essentially, we’re done already. If all you need is to review your flashcards by word and translation, this can now be done by adding this card to a deck and beginning a review as shown later in the guide.
But sometimes it is helpful to add a few more fields of content to your cards. So below I’ll show you how to add example sentences, an explanation (worth knowing if you’re learning a glyphic language like Chinese), or categorise the word as “noun”, “verb”, or in my case “suffix”.
skip to the 4. Decks section or continue for optional features
3.2 Adding Explanations (Optional)
Explanations are information you can store about the word in the card. They are only shown upon reveal. You can jot anything, a few of my propositions include
- Notes on irregularities and how the word might change under certain conditions (if learning a language with cases)
- Personal notes or a mindhook to remember the word
- The romanised pronunciation of a glyphic word (e.g. the pinyin for Chinese symbols)
Adding an explanation requires the use of another -operator. The text between them is now our explanation
word - explanation - translation
My word, “sita” is actually a colloquial variant of the more widely used suffix “cita” which is spelled with a “c”. I’d like to write that down so if ever I read “cita” somewhere, I’ll be reminded it carries the same meaning.
sita - colloquial variant of "cita" - fem. affectionate suffix
The explanation field is especially useful for if you are apprehending a glyphic language or one, that uses an alternate writing system. You can use the explanation field as pronunciation field.
珍惜 - zhēnxī - to cherish
3.3 Declaring Word Types (Optional)
Word types let you categorise your words into groups like “noun”, “verb”, “adjective” and so on. But you can also define your own types. You can manage them within the plugins setting’s (here’s how you open them) “Card Types” section.
You use the = operator followed by a distinctive key right after the definition of your word in the flashcard to assign it a type.
TODO
3.4 Adding Example Sentences (Optional)
Another thing that you sometimes might want to include are example sentences that show in what way or context your word is suitably used. We add them using a : symbol preceeding the sentence’s text.
word : sentence - translation
Or, pairing it with an explanation
word - explanation : sentence - translation
word : sentence - explanation - translation
INFO
The order in which you define explanation, examples, or other elements generally doesn’t matter. However, you must keep your word at the front and the translation as the text behind the last
-
You can add as many as you want
word - explanation : sentence 1 : sentence 2 : sentence 3 : sentence 4 - translation
I’ll extend my card with a sentence alongside its explanation
sita - colloquial variant of "cita" : Que tenga un buen día mí amorsita - fem. affectionate suffix
3.5 Defining Multiline Cards (Optional)
When we defined multiple examples alongside an explanation, you probably noticed that having all of that individual content crammed onto a single line will become messy. Generally, this isn’t a problem since you will define your cards once and never have to touch their text definitions ever again.
word - explanation : sentence 1 : sentence 2 : sentence 3 : sentence 4 - translation
But if you prefer oversight you can substitute - with -- and : with :: to break your cards into multiple lines. This way, the card above can be recast into
word --
explanation ::
sentence 1 ::
sentence 2 ::
sentence 3 ::
sentence 4 --
translation
What is happening? The operators :: and -- tell the card parser to “look what is at the line below” instead of “look what is directly behind me”. Notice, that both :: and -- only declare the content of the next line, from the line they are on.
/* Correct structure */
word --
translation
And therefore something like the faulty structure below won’t ever work
/* Incorrect structure */
word
-- translation
I’ll add another sentence to my growing card, breaking it apart for the sake of visual clarity.
sita --
colloquial variant of "cita" ::
En realidad, cómo te fue el día, amorsita? ::
Que tenga un buen día mí amorsita --
fem. affectionate suffix
But note, that most of the cards you’ll write shouldn’t be as extensive as this one. Using word - translation is completely enough. After all, you learn the word by reviewing it, not by spending three minutes for writing its flashcard.
Info
Phones sometimes like to automatically turn
--into hyphens (–or—). No worries, Euphoric Flashcards reads both as--and leaves your text as typed.
4. Decks
4.1 Defining a Deck
To review your flashcards, they need to sit in a deck. A deck is an Obsidian tag sitting above your flashcard definitions in the file and having been registered as recognised deck in the plugin’s settings. All of the flashcards below that tag become automatically assigned to that deck.
#deck-tag
word in the deck - translation
second word in the deck - translation
4.2 Registering a Deck in Settings
We need to now tell Euphoric to look for this deck across the vault. So to make Euphoric Flashcards recognise this tag as flashcard deck, open the plugin’s settings (here’s how you open them) and in the “Decks” section under “Root deck tags” type the tag (exactly as you have defined it in the flashcard file) onto a new line of the text input field. (i.e. #deck-tag) For defining multiple decks, you must enter each deck tag on a new line below the already registered in the text input field.
4.3 Subdecks
We call the registered decks “root deck tags” because it is also possible to create nested decks. Upon review, subdecks can be either reviewed separately, or will automatically include their contents in any parental deck that is being reviewed. Use them to organise your flashcards. Subdeck tags are written like a pathname using / to separate the deck layers.
#deck-tag
(words in the deck-tag deck)
#deck-tag/subdeck
(words assigned to the subdeck of #deck-tag)
We now have created a hierarchy like this
└ #deck-tag
└─ subdeck
It is convenient to utilise these subdecks to organise your growing word-repository straight from the beginning. You could try a structure like this for example (view best on a wide screen) :
├ #español (the spanish root deck)
│ ├─ palabras-clave (core words 'and', 'yet', 'however', prepositions, etc.)
│ ├─ estructuras (fixed structures 'if ... then ...', etc.)
│ ├─ frases (phrases and idioms)
│ ├─ ...
│ └─ 2026 (categorising subdeck #español/2026)
│ ├─ 10-octubre (monthly decks for all the words learned in that time-period, that don't belong into the special higher decks)
│ ├─ 09-septiembre
│ └─ ...
│
├ #中文 (chinese flashcards under their respective root deck with the same structure)
│ ├─ ...
│
└ #polski (polish flashcards under their respective root deck with the sane structure)
├─ ...
Info
It doesn’t matter in what Obsidian files you define your tags in. I recommend defining one deck per Obsidian file (so palabras-clave, estructuras, frases, 09-septiembre have each their own file), but you can also have two individual files holding the same tag (#deck-tag) with different vocabs in each and Euphoric Flashcards will just treat these different file’s flashcards as contents of the same deck.
For the sake of clarity I’ll use a simpler version of my “sita” flashcard and nest it in the subdeck #español/2026/09-septiembre as it is one of the words I picked up in September, in an Obsidian note labelled “DES0926” (“Deck ESpañol 09 2026”)
(Within the Obsidian note "DES0926")
#español/2026/09-septiembre
sita - colloquial variant of "cita" : Que tenga un buen día mí amorsita - fem. affectionate suffix
5. Reviewing Your Cards
Everything starts from one command. Open the command palette, run Euphoric Flashcards: Review, and you land in the Explorer. Pick a mode at the top, adjust its options, and tap a deck to begin.
5.1 Review Modes
There are four review modes: Learn, Review, Conjure Sentences, and Cram. For learning the language effectively you want to be ideally using Learn mode the most. Here’s a brief on what they do:
Learn: This unified mode picks “groups” (bundles of 8 or less flashcards) with a deliberate selection pattern1 and generates 1 to 3 sentence-building exercises from them throughout the review-session (based on how well you recalled them). It is the most time consuming but by far most effective review mode. It can be used always, whether or not there are due flashcards and will schedule only due cards.Review: Classic flashcard review mode that is only usable when cards are due.Conjure Sentences: Chooses a predefined amount of cards from across your deck and makes you form a sentence from them. This mode’s functionality is automatically utilised withinLearnmode. Extra features can be configured and carry over straight intoLearnmode:- 6.3 Word Count and Selection to adjust how many cards and what card-sides are chosen.
- 6.4 Construction Constraints allow the exercises to instruct you to use a particular tense or sentence structure.
- 6.5 Sentence Deposit write out your sentence and automatically save it to your Obsidian vault.
Cram: Runs through the whole deck, due or not, and never touches your schedule. Meant for the night before an exam.
5.2 Self-Grading Buttons
When revealing the answer to a flashcard Learnand Review mode show three buttons to categorise this word:
Again: You couldn’t recall the card. It is shuffled once again into the review queue and will resurface later with only two buttonsAgainandOkay.Okay: You got the card right, but it took a little amount of time and effort to remember it.Good: You got the card right effortlessly.
6. Extra Features
6.1 Editing a Card During Review
Spotted a typo while reviewing? Tap the pencil in the header, fix the card and save. Its schedule stays intact.
6.2 Card Side
In the Explorer, Review, Cram and Conjure Sentences let you choose whether you get asked the word, its translation or a shuffle of both. Learn always asks both. The side its sentence tasks show can be pinned in the Learn settings.
6.3 Word Count and Selection
Choose how many words a sentence task draws, three by default. Optimised balances words you know well with fresh ones, Random takes whatever comes. Both sit in the Conjure Sentences settings.
6.4 Construction Constraints
Add challenges like “past tense” or “ask a question” in the settings and bind them to a deck. Every sentence task in that deck and its subdecks then shows one at random above your words. Turn it on under Conjure Sentences.
6.5 Sentence Deposit
Turn on sentence deposit and pick an inbox note. A text field appears below your words, and Good appends whatever you typed to that note for later review.
6.6 Target Retention and Maximum Interval
Target retention is how sure you want to be to remember a card when it returns, 90% by default. Higher means more reviews and stronger recall. Maximum interval is roughly the longest a card can stay away, 365 days by default. Reset scheduling parameters restores both.
6.7 Start of Day
Night owl? Set Start of day to 04:00:00 and reviews before four in the morning count toward the previous day.
6.8 Load Balancing
Load balancing shifts long intervals by a few days so no single day piles up with reviews. It is on by default. Rebuild histogram refreshes its view of your upcoming days.
6.9 Appearance
Turn on interval previews to see when each answer brings a card back, hide the shortcut badges on desktop, or set the animation duration to 0 to switch animations off.
6.11 Converting Cards from Older Versions
Coming from an older version? Press Convert legacy cards to FSRS at the bottom of the settings before reviewing. It shows what will change first. Old cards you review without converting start over as new.
7. How to Continue?
7.1 Capturing Sentences with Dictation
7.2 Review Schedule
A few Learn rounds, then review. Never sentence or cram.
7.3 Learning Materials
- Bilingual Magazines or articles (or Apps for reading)
- Podcasts and Music
- Grammar study sessions
- For learning production, you want to maximise pushing yourself into the situation of having to speak freely
To keep education free and accessible. For everyone. Forever.
Footnotes
-
The selection mechanism intentionally prioritises seating newer cards into groups and filling in with due cards, starting with those you are closest to forgetting. This consequently leads to a pileup of older due cards in later
Learnsessions on a given day, which is when you can transfer toReviewmode to finish them off. If no cards are due,Learnmode chooses from the entire deck, regardless of due-date, following the same selection priorities and not rewriting the card’s schedules. ↩