Not everyone has the time or resources to study new languages, and this is especially true if the journey is just temporary. … BUT it’s now quite simple to read and speak a local language owing to the greatest translation applications available.
You won’t believe how often a translation app has aided me in my travels, from reading street directions to placing an order for food and from translating a ticket stub to actually speaking with a local! To put it mildly, they were life-saving.
The majority of these translation applications also offer further features in addition to word-by-word translation, including some that can translate voice and image files into English and some that can operate offline.
With that said, it is ESSENTIAL to have at least one translation software on your smartphone, but if you want to broaden your options, read our post, which lays out the finest translation applications that can help you enjoy a trouble-free trip overseas!
1. GOOGLE TRANSLATE
This has got to be the #1 translation app that I use the majority of the time, and I really love its offline functionality, chats feature, and fast camera translation.
Conversations: Speak to the app and an artificial voice will translate your speech for you so that a local can understand you perfectly in their language – and vice versa! It’s a fantastic tool for having real conversations with other people.
It’s an excellent tool for having real conversations with other people.
Instant Camera Translation: As you can see in the image above, all you have to do is point your camera to a foreign language, and Google Translate will translate it for you (isn’t technology amazing?!).
FEATURES:
Text translations are accessible in 108 languages,
While visual translations are available in 90 languages.
Offline support for 59 languages
71 languages for real-time translations of conversations
language detection feature
PRICE: FREE
2. MICROSOFT TRANSLATOR
Microsoft Translator only supports 90 languages as of now because it was released somewhat later in the game; nonetheless, many people assert that even though there aren’t many languages, the translations are of great quality.
While they share many of the same capabilities as Google Translate, Microsoft Translator has one cool feature that lets you hold group talks using its conversation functionality. Users can construct a room, where participants can hold multilingual group talks after entering the room by scanning a code.
FEATURES:
90 languages are accessible for text translation,
While 39 languages are available for image translation.
47 languages that can be used offline
30 languages for real-time translations of conversations
language detection feature.
PRICE: FREE
3. SPEAK & TRANSLATE
Similar to the first two, but with a rapid voice and text translation and an Apple Watch app with iCloud integration, this software is more well-known.
FEATURES:
10 offline languages are available.
54 languages for real-time translations of conversations
Language detection functionality.
.PRICE: FREE with premium features available on a monthly or yearly basis.
4. ITRANSLATE TRANSLATOR
The built-in dictionary and phrasebook of iTranslate, which has a tonne of helpful phrases in over a hundred languages, is one of the features that users adore! It offers a pro version that will assist you in speaking more clearly (by paying attention to word conjugations, for example).
The best component? It contains augmented reality technology that enables it to translate objects in real time!
FEATURES:
The translation of text, images, and voices is available in 100 languages;
Phrasebooks and dictionaries with more than 250 predefined phrases;
Widgets and flashcards to learn a new word every day;
Offline translation capability;
A language-detection feature.
5. ITRANSLATE CONVERSE OR VOICE
These are two (2) unique apps that are different from the iTranslate product line, however, they are only accessible on Apple devices.
A speech translation tool for two-way talks in 38 languages is called iTranslate Converse. Additionally, even in noisy situations, it automatically recognizes the other party’s language to provide quick and accurate translations! (It even transcripts the talks, which you can export with ease.)
iTranslate Voice is a fantastic software to use if you want a more accurate voice translation. More than 40 languages are supported, and just like the previous programme, voice translations can be exported and transcribed.
DOWNLOAD: iOS
PRICE: FREE, with paid premium features (monthly/yearly)
6. NAVER PAPAGO
One of the top translation apps, especially for Asian languages, is Papago, developed by the renowned Naver Corporation in South Korea.
They currently provide 13 languages: Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese (Simplified/Traditional), Spanish, French, Vietnamese, Thai, Indonesian, Russian, German, and Italian.
Features:
Include handwriting and internet translations,
INCLUDES: Sections for a dictionary and phrasebook; translations into 13 languages for text, image, and voice; translations of handwriting and websites;
Detect language features and the ability to translate documents offline.
Features that include language detection and offline translation.
PRICE: FREE
7. PHOTO TRANSLATOR
Download Photo Translator if you’re looking for a standalone programme that specializes in translating photos and other visual content. Being able to use it offline to avoid using up your phone’s data makes it extra useful.
FEATURES:
Most powerful OCR & AI Translation technology
100+ languages supported; auto language recognition;
Offline capabilities.
FREE with paid premium features available on a monthly, annual, or one-time basis.
DOWNLOAD: Android / iOS
8. TRIPLINGO
This translation programme is helpful if you want to understand the local slang as well, as the name suggests. In reality, TripLingo allows you to pick up basic words and phrases in four slang levels while also getting a crash lesson in the local way of life.
FEATURES:
Support for over 100 languages
2,000 words in 13 different languages
offline 10,000 word dictionary
Voice and picture translations in 42 languages
Feature “Culture Crash Course”
Currency converter and tip calculator.
FREE with premium features available on a monthly or yearly basis.
