# Converts your string to a bash array SAVEIFS=$IFS # Save current IFS (Internal Field Separator) IFS=' ' # Change IFS to space array=($regions) # split the `regions` string into an array IFS=$SAVEIFS # Restore original IFS # Converts the bash array to a json array json_array=$(printf '%s\n' "${array[@]}" | jq -R . | jq -s .) $ Format the output as Script Filter Json Format jq -n --argjson item "$json_array" -f <(echo '{"items":[$item[] as $name | {"uid":$name,"title":$name,"arg":$name,"autocomplete":$name,"icon":{"path":("icons/" + $name + ".png")}}]}')