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public class YourClass {
  public static final Map<String, String> staticMap = new HashMap<>();
  static {
      staticMap.put("key1", "value1");
      staticMap.put("key2", "value2");
Look at Guavas ImmutableMap for a constant dictionary.
private static final Map<String, String> PAIRS = ImmutableMap.of("Name1", "Value1","Name2", "Value2");
If you have lots of entries you can use the 
ImmutableMap.builder()
In Java, you can use the Map interface, and choose that implementation that best fits your needs; like:
Map<String, String> pairs = new HashMap<>();
pairs.put("key1", "value1");
System.out.println("The value would be:" + pairs.get("key1");
You would also want to read about java Collection in general; and look into the corresponding tutorials. When you need a Map that can't be "changed" upon adding the initial elements; you would first populate an ordinary Map object; and then use Collections.unmodifiableMap() afterwards.
Given your comments: Java's "built-in" java.lang.Map is always about a keys/value pairs. If you need more than one value, you would be using something like Map<String, List<String>> for example. Or you can turn to 3rd party libraries, such as Guavas Multimap.
                Thanks for the reply. It seems like a good idea. Another question: Can I do something like Map<String,String,String> with map interface? I might need to hold more than 1 value for 1 key.
– The Cook
                Dec 9, 2016 at 11:57
                @TheCook no, you would need a different datatype for your value, e.g you could use a list like Map<String,List<String>> map = new HashMap<String, ArrayList<String>>(); or if it's a fixed number of values, an array or custom datatype
– mbdavis
                Dec 9, 2016 at 12:03
                @mbdavis Your code example is wrong. You still say new HashMap<> ... the ArrayList comes into play when putting things into the map. You can't create the list when creating the map; sorry, but your code is total bogus.
– GhostCat
                Dec 9, 2016 at 12:18
                This answer does not define a static dictionary. Should not be the accepted answer. @Héctor has the right answer stackoverflow.com/a/41060064/2614353
– Tom Bevelander
                Mar 27, 2018 at 11:55
A - Explanation
First you have to determine the functionalities of the dictionary you want in an interface. Then you can use simply a HashMap or a Map Implementation in your dictionary implementation. You can store the (word, meaning) pairs in your HashMap.
I've provided both a dictionary interface and an implementation with using the HashMap collection. The demo code and output is as below;
If you want to make the dictionary persistent, then you have to write the contents of the map to a text file.
B - Dictionary Interface
package com.levent.dictionary;
public interface Dictionary {
    void addToDictionary(String word, String meaning);
    void removeWord(String word);
    int count();
    boolean isExist(String word);
    String getMeaning(String word);
C - Dictionary Implementation with HashMap
package com.levent.dictionary;
import java.util.HashMap;
import java.util.Map;
public class DictionaryImpl implements Dictionary {
    private int count;
    private Map<String, String> wordMap;
    public DictionaryImpl() {
        count = 0;
        wordMap = new HashMap<>();
    @Override
    public void addToDictionary(String word, String meaning) {
        if(!isExist(word)) {
            wordMap.put(word, meaning);
            count++;
    @Override
    public void removeWord(String word) {
        if(isExist(word)) {
            wordMap.remove(word);
            count--;
    @Override
    public int count() {
        return count;
    @Override
    public boolean isExist(String word) {
        if(wordMap.get(word) != null)
            return true;
        return false;
    @Override
    public String getMeaning(String word) {
        String meaning = null;
        if(isExist(word)) {
            meaning = wordMap.get(word);
        return meaning;
D - Dictionary Demo Code
package com.levent.dictionary;
public class DictionaryDemo {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        Dictionary dict = new DictionaryImpl();
        // add word 'gitmek'
        String word = "gitmek";
        boolean isExist = dict.isExist(word);
        System.out.println("\"" + word + "\"" + " is exist in dictionary? : " + isExist );
        System.out.println("dict count: " + dict.count());
        dict.addToDictionary(word, "to go");
        System.out.println("\t" + "\"" + word + "\"" + " added to dictionary");
        isExist = dict.isExist(word);
        System.out.println("\"" + word + "\"" + " is exist in dictionary? : " + isExist );
        System.out.println("\"" + word + "\"" + ": " + dict.getMeaning(word));
        System.out.println("dict count: " + dict.count());
        System.out.println("\n*************************\n");
        // add word 'gelmek'
        word = "gelmek";
        isExist = dict.isExist(word);
        System.out.println("\"" + word + "\"" + " is exist in dictionary? : " + isExist );
        System.out.println("dict count: " + dict.count());
        dict.addToDictionary(word, "to come");
        System.out.println("\t" + "\"" + word + "\"" + " added to dictionary");
        isExist = dict.isExist(word);
        System.out.println("\"" + word + "\"" + " is exist in dictionary? : " + isExist );
        System.out.println("\"" + word + "\"" + ": " + dict.getMeaning(word));
        System.out.println("dict count: " + dict.count());
        System.out.println("\n*************************\n");
        // remove word 'gitmek'
        word = "gitmek";
        dict.removeWord(word);
        System.out.println("\t" + "\"" + word + "\"" + " removed from dictionary");
        isExist = dict.isExist(word);
        System.out.println("\"" + word + "\"" + " is exist in dictionary? : " + isExist );
        System.out.println("dict count: " + dict.count());
E - Demo Output
"gitmek" is exist in dictionary? : false
dict count: 0
    "gitmek" added to dictionary
"gitmek" is exist in dictionary? : true
"gitmek": to go
dict count: 1
*************************
"gelmek" is exist in dictionary? : false
dict count: 1
    "gelmek" added to dictionary
"gelmek" is exist in dictionary? : true
"gelmek": to come
dict count: 2
*************************
    "gitmek" removed from dictionary
"gitmek" is exist in dictionary? : false
dict count: 1
        
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