# Can I use/define synonyms without entities

**URL:** https://forum.rasa.com/t/can-i-use-define-synonyms-without-entities/11307
**Category:** Rasa Open Source
**Created:** [June 11, 2019, 1:28pm UTC](https://forum.rasa.com/t/can-i-use-define-synonyms-without-entities/11307 "2019-06-11T13:28:14Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![gillesf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gillesf](https://forum.rasa.com/u/gillesf)
#### Post date: [June 11, 2019, 1:28pm UTC](https://forum.rasa.com/t/can-i-use-define-synonyms-without-entities/11307/1 "2019-06-11T13:28:14Z")

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Hello there,

Can I use synonyms without creating entities

```
## intent:parking_ask

- can I park my car here ?

## synonym:car

- vehicle
- auto

```

If not, can I define entity just to use synonym ? And is it a good thing ?

Thanks

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### Author: ![ameid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac8455/32.png) [@ameid](https://forum.rasa.com/u/ameid)
#### Post date: [June 18, 2019, 1:20pm UTC](https://forum.rasa.com/t/can-i-use-define-synonyms-without-entities/11307/2 "2019-06-18T13:20:10Z")

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As far as I know, you should have entities and then you create synonyms.

> [@](#):
>
> And is it a good thing ?

Why not?

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### Author: ![imLew](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/forum.rasa.com/imlew/32/3744_2.png) [@imLew](https://forum.rasa.com/u/imLew)
#### Post date: [June 19, 2019, 3:18pm UTC](https://forum.rasa.com/t/can-i-use-define-synonyms-without-entities/11307/3 "2019-06-19T15:18:46Z")

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Hi Gilles,

what you are looking for are [lookup tables](https://rasa.com/docs/rasa/nlu/training-data-format/#lookup-tables). Using entity synonyms the way you described would not work because entities are only mapped to synonyms after they are extracted.

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### Author: ![Kosechok](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/forum.rasa.com/kosechok/32/12803_2.png) [@Kosechok](https://forum.rasa.com/u/Kosechok)
#### Post date: [January 12, 2021, 3:02pm UTC](https://forum.rasa.com/t/can-i-use-define-synonyms-without-entities/11307/4 "2021-01-12T15:02:30Z")

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@ [gillesf](http://forum.rasa.com/u/gillesf)

did you solve your problem with lookup tables? if yes, can you provide me with addition information about it?