diff --git a/fastionary/app.py b/fastionary/app.py
index fbf8833..96788a0 100644
--- a/fastionary/app.py
+++ b/fastionary/app.py
@@ -1,11 +1,26 @@
 from flask import Flask
 from flask import request
 from flask import render_template
+import json
+import os 
 
 app = Flask(__name__)
 
+def get_dictionary(filename='fastionary/enfr.json'):
+    print (filename)
+    if os.path.exists(filename):
+        with open (filename, 'r') as json_file:
+            dictionary = json.load(json_file)
+    else: 
+        dictionary = {}
+        # what happens if dictionary not found? 
+        # return dummy dictionary? 
+        # display that no dictionary file was found
+        # where should this be handled
+    return dictionary
+
 def get_translations(word):
-    dictionary={'yes':'oui', 'no':'non', 'cheese':'fromage', 'yesterday':'hier', 'tomorrow':'demain', 'yes man':'jasager'}
+    dictionary=get_dictionary()
     translation = None
     if word != None or word != '':
         translation = dictionary.get(word)
diff --git a/fastionary/enfr.json b/fastionary/enfr.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..850affb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/fastionary/enfr.json
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+{"yes":"oui", "no":"non", "cheese":"fromage", "yesterday":"hier", "tomorrow":"demain", "yes man":"jasager"}