Technology has fundamentally changed the way we travel. Whether following directions, snapping pictures and taking videos, or just communicating, mobile phones have made everything simpler for the modern road trip. Thankfully, the newest digital features also include a slew of translation apps and services to help you better navigate foreign countries and cultures.
And though they won’t automatically upgrade your core skills or teach you to perfectly speak another language, they will allow you to easily converse and connect while abroad. Here’s what you need to know before setting off on your next international adventure.
Google Assistant Interpreter Mode
The Google Translate app has already proved to be a huge help in translating over 100 different languages using voice, image and handwriting. But the just-launched Interpreter Mode for smartphones is a real-time translation feature which can be accessed using any Google Assistant-enabled phone, either Android or iOS. Just use the greeting, “Hey, Google” to begin, then ask your Assistant to translate or help you speak across any of the includes 44 languages – almost instantly. You’ll then be able to see the translated conversation on your phone. Don’t want to speak your instructions out loud? You can choose to type or manually select the language. In addition, Google has added a similar feature in Google Maps to help you navigate, allowing your phone to translate names and addresses in the local language. Google Assistant comes installed on Android but Apple users can download it from the Apple Store.
Microsoft Translator
A great option for business, this mobile app can help you translate over 60 languages using either text or voice and can even translate more than one person at a time. Within the app, you can choose the type of translation you need, be it spoken, typed or image, or just tap on the People icon, which allows you to start or join a conversation by sharing a digital code via smartphone or even enter a group chat. Offline language packs also let you access basic translations when you’re not connected or find yourself off the beaten track. Available for iOS, Android and Windows 10.
iTranslate
This simple and popular app helps you converse in over 100 different languages. Speak into your phone and it will automatically translate your words into text of whichever language you choose. Need to translate a sign, menu or map? It’s as easy as snapping a photo. The app also instantly translates websites into over 40 languages, includes a dictionary with verb conjugations and even offers an extension for using your Apple Watch. Available for iOS, Android and as a Web App.
TripLingo
This well-rounded, not to mention fun, app not only includes a voice translator for conversations, but also comes with a built-in phrasebook to help you sound more like a local and less like a clueless tourist – incorporating over 2000 phrases representing four levels of slang, formal and more casual options. You’ll also have access to a suite of learning tools, like audio lessons, interactive flashcards and a quiz mode to get you in fighting (or conversing) shape. Travel tools are also helpful and include a direct line to emergency services, a tip calculator and an etiquette guide for improving your cultural manners. For an added charge, you can also instantly access live translators on standby. Available for iOS and Android.
Speak & Translate
This app comes with a price – you can purchase it by month or by year – but puts a premium on less common languages, like Icelandic and Zulu, using a sleek, seamless experience for translating conversations. Real-time voice recognition includes 117 languages for text translations and 54 languages for voice translations. Translation history can be synchronized and accessed across Apple platforms, and voice settings let you choose how fast or slow you want your translations read out loud, as well as a choice of male and female voices. Available on iOS.
SayHi
Simplicity is this apps raison d’etre, giving you access to a super simple, split-screen interface which allows you to speak or type the words and/or sentences you need translated in 90 languages. It also allows for regional dialects in certain languages and lets you share your translated conversations using text, email Facebook or Twitter. Voice settings let you adjust the speed of your translations in either male or female voices. Available on iOS and Android.