check your php extentions for spell extension existing
php -m | grep spell
info: you have to see pspell in the output, if not than install the php extension (see notice below)
config/config.inc.php
i use pspell for spellcheck "backend"
$config['enable_spellcheck'] = true;
// Set the spell checking engine. Possible values:
// - 'googie' - the default (also used for connecting to Nox Spell Server, see 'spellcheck_uri' setting)
// - 'pspell' - requires the PHP Pspell module and aspell installed
// - 'enchant' - requires the PHP Enchant module
// - 'atd' - install your own After the Deadline server or check with the people at http://www.afterthedeadline.com before using their API
// Since Google shut down their public spell checking service, the default settings
// connect to http://spell.roundcube.net which is a hosted service provided by Roundcube.
// You can connect to any other googie-compliant service by setting 'spellcheck_uri' accordingly.
$config['spellcheck_engine'] = 'pspell';
// These languages can be selected for spell checking.
// Configure as a PHP style hash array: array('en'=>'English', 'de'=>'Deutsch');
// Leave empty for default set of Google spell check languages, should be defined
// when using local Pspell extension
$rcmail_config['spellcheck_languages'] = array('en'=>'English', 'de'=>'Deutsch');
install php pspell extension
apt update
apt install aspell-en aspell-de php7-pspell -y
systemctl restart php7-fpm.service
now spellcheck would be able on roundecube