Over the years, I’ve traveled to numerous countries, including France, Spain, Serbia, Poland, and China. I’ve always been diligent in filling my suitcase with the necessary clothes, toiletries, and snacks, but I’ve been equally thoughtful about which apps are installed on my phone.
One of the apps that I forget at my peril is Google Translate. I can speak a little bit of French, Spanish, and Mandarin, but beyond that, my grasp of foreign languages is pretty much nonexistent. I’ll try my best in shops and restaurants, but it takes me an inordinate amount of time to read menus, check labels, and communicate with locals on a level they’ll understand.
It is for these reasons that I’m absolutely indebted to Google Translate. Not only has the app gotten me out of and through some tricky situations, but it’s also made traveling through foreign countries so much more enjoyable.
Homescreen heroes
This is part of a regular series of articles exploring the apps that we couldn’t live without. Read them all here.
Now, I’m sure the app needs no introduction, but I wonder if you’re using it to its full potential. You might know that it can translate text you type into the engine, but did you know that it can also translate images, websites, and even whole documents? This is one of the best translation apps around, and if you’re holidaying in a foreign country this summer, then I highly recommend downloading it.
Translating text with ease
At the heart of the app is a text translation service. With support for over 130 different languages, you’re bound to find the translation help you need in whatever country you find yourself in. All you have to do is type your text into the box, and Google will effortlessly translate it for you. It’ll even do the hard work of detecting the language that you’ve typed.
The app will translate as you type, which means you’ll benefit from real-time updates rather than having to wait till you’ve finished typing a whole section. This is ideal if time is of the essence and you need to make yourself understood sooner rather than later.
In reality, I don’t make much use of manually typing my requests in because Google Translate has an unbelievably good voice dictation feature that can accurately translate spoken words and phrases. I find this to be so much quicker than relying on my fingers!
This feature can also be used to translate spoken words from a foreign language into words you’ll understand. So, if you’re getting a tour guide in a native language, interacting with a waiter, or trying to check into your hotel, just make sure your phone can hear their voice, and the app will do the rest.
Translating images like a pro
Aside from text translation, I have found the app’s ability to translate text in images the most useful feature. I’ve used this to bring meaning to menus, road signs, books, labels, accessibility instructions, and more. This feature has been invaluable at those times when I’ve either been physically lost or unable to properly access or travel through a space.
The feature can be used in two different ways. The first is to instantly translate whatever you point your phone camera at. The second is to translate the text that is contained within a previously captured photo.
The camera option is useful for on-the-go translation. If you turn up at a venue or park and you’re presented with a map or set of instructions, then being able to simply point your camera at the sign and see the foreign words change to English (in my case) is an absolute lifesaver. The fact that these are overlaid on top of the image your camera is capturing makes you feel like you’re accessing the space in a very similar way to all the natives.
Translating text in an image is helpful at those times when a friend sends you a photo or when you don’t need to take in the translated information at that specific point in time. The functionality works very similarly to the camera option in that it overlays the translated text on top of the original.
Free translation at your fingertips
Google Translate is 100% free, which is incredible given the features and quality that it delivers. If you’d like to explore other alternatives, then you could take a look at either DeepL, Reverso, or Yandex. These offer very similar functionality, but in my experience, Google Translate provides the best user experience for everyday users.
Google Translate also has the largest language database, supporting over 130 languages. This is significantly more than any of their competitors. If you’re traveling to countries or regions with less common languages, then Google’s offering should serve you best.
So, if you’re traveling somewhere soon, why not give it a try? Download Google Translate for free on iOS or Android.