LaTeX error · Packages, files and fonts

Package babel Error: Unknown option 'engish'.

The error in the log

This is how the message appears in the .log file (and in the compile output). The line starting with l. is the line number where TeX noticed the problem; the real mistake is there or just before it.

! Package babel Error: Unknown option 'engish'.
(babel)                Suggested actions:
(babel)                * Make sure you haven't misspelled it
(babel)                * Check in the babel manual that it's supported
(babel)                * If supported and it's a language, you may
(babel)                  need in some distributions a separate
(babel)                  installation
(babel)                * If installed, check there isn't an old
(babel)                  version of the required files in your system

Why it happens

• A typo in the language name: engish, englsh, portugese.
• A name babel does not use: en or english-us instead of english or american, brasil instead of brazilian.
• The language is spelled correctly but not installed: TeX Live and MiKTeX ship many languages as separate packages (for example babel-spanish).
• An option meant for another package, such as utf8 or T1, was passed to babel or given as a global class option that babel picked up.

How to fix it

Fix the spelling first; the name in quotes in the message is exactly what babel received. Then, if the name is right, install the language: on TeX Live tlmgr install babel-spanish, on MiKTeX the package manager installs it on demand. Online editors such as Octree ship the full TeX Live, so a correct name is all you need.

Languages without a classic .ldf file are loaded with \babelprovide[import]{language} or with \usepackage[provide=*]{babel}.

Broken: reproduces the error

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage[engish]{babel}
\begin{document}
Hello, world.
\end{document}

Fixed: compiles cleanly

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage[english]{babel}
\begin{document}
Hello, world.
\end{document}

Related errors

• Option clash for package – A package is loaded twice with different options, often once by another package.
• File not found – A package or class named in \usepackage or \documentclass is misspelled or not installed.
• Unicode character not set up for use with LaTeX – pdfLaTeX met a pasted Unicode symbol (≈, →, emoji, CJK) that it has no definition for.
• All LaTeX errors and warnings – The full list, grouped by cause

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does babel say "Unknown option" for a language that exists?

Either the name is not the one babel uses (for example ngerman rather than german-new, brazilian or portuguese), or the language files are not installed. Check the spelling against the babel manual and install the matching babel-language package.

What are the correct babel names for common languages?

english, british, american, ngerman, french, spanish, italian, portuguese, brazilian, dutch, polish, russian, greek, turkish. For Chinese, Japanese, Arabic and Hindi use \babelprovide or, with XeLaTeX or LuaLaTeX, polyglossia or the ini-based loader.

Can I load several languages with babel?

Yes: \usepackage[french,english]{babel}. The last one is the main language. Switch inside the text with \selectlanguage{french} or \foreignlanguage{french}{texte}.