Google Translate

Google Translate can translate typed text, spoken conversations and text in photos, for example a menu or a sign. You can download a language so that it works without internet.

How it helps

• Quick understanding of a message, a notice or a website in another language.
• Pronunciation help through audio playback.
• Offline use after you download a language pack, useful when travelling.

Where to be careful

Machine translation can miss context, idioms and politeness levels. It is fine for getting the sense of a text, but do not depend on it for legal documents, medical instructions or official forms. If you are learning a language, use it as a dictionary and combine it with a course such as Duolingo.

Translating more accurately

• Write short, complete sentences. Slang and half-sentences translate badly.
• Translate the result back into your own language to check it still makes sense.
• Download the languages you need before travelling so Translate works without a signal.
• Use the camera mode for signs and menus, but ask a person for anything about allergies, medicine or legal papers.

Things to know first

Can I trust it for official documents? No. Use a qualified translator for legal and medical documents.

Does it work offline? Only for languages you downloaded in advance.

Bottom line

Translate is excellent for getting the sense of a text or a sign and unreliable for anything where exact wording matters. Idioms, honorifics and legal terms often go wrong, so use it as an aid, not the final authority. Download a language before travelling so it works without signal.

A typical situation

A traveller points the camera at a menu in another language to understand the dishes, but asks a local person before ordering for someone with an allergy.

Related reading

Learn the language with Duolingo and our 30-day English plan. For reading research, see Wikipedia.