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Getting from Point A to Point B can be challenging, and that’s especially true when you’re in a country where you don’t speak the language. You may need to ask someone for directions or tell a cab driver where you want to go, but you don’t have any idea how to pronounce the name of the place where you’re going.
If you’re unfamiliar with the characters or alphabet used by that language, you may be further confused about how to communicate where you’re headed.
An update to the Google Maps app adds Google Translate features to make traveling easier in other countries. With this update, Google Maps will automatically recognize when you’re searching for a destination in a place that uses a different language and utilize Google Translate in the Maps app to help you get where you’re going.
When you’re doing a search in Google Maps for a place or address in an area that uses a different language, you’ll see a new speaker button next to the place name or the address. Tap that speaker button and Google Translate will speak that name and/or address for you in that language.
Google Maps will automatically detect which language it should use based on the location of the destination. The Google Maps app will also detect when that language is different from the default language set on your phone.
The Google Maps app will show a Get more translations link to take you to Google Translate, in case you need to continue a conversation in that language.
For example, if you’re searching for the National Art Center in Tokyo, Japan and you don’t speak Japanese, you may not recognize the characters and may not have a clue about how to pronounce the name of the place nor the street name.
Google Maps can help guide you to the National Art Center, and speak the name of the place and the street. Others can hear the words being spoken and you can learn to pronounce the words.
Availability
Google Maps is a free app from Google available for:
The Google Translate feature in Google Maps will be rolling out in an update to the Google Maps app for Android and iOS for iPhone and iPad, beginning later this month. Initially, this feature will be available in 50 different languages, with more languages planned to be added in the future.
Google has not yet indicated which 50 languages will be available in this new Google Maps feature, but the description in the update to the app should list those languages when the update is released.
Your Thoughts
Have you ever struggled to get directions to a place when you were traveling because you couldn’t speak the language? Do you think this update to Google Maps adding Google Translate features will be helpful to travelers? Do you like the convenience of having Google Translate available in the Google Maps app?
Share your thoughts in the Comments section below!
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*Tokyo image (edited) courtesy of Pawel Nolbert on Unsplash
That’s so cool! Now you can travel in far away countries without getting lost! I wonder what they will come up with next to make exploring interesting places easier.
Hello Duilio, Yes, the update to the Google Maps app can help prevent people from getting lost. Navigating in countries where you don’t speak the language can be easier by using the app with this new update.
Hi Carolyn!
That’s good! The updates will help anyone who travelling in other countries without getting any trouble. Google always did good works!
Hi Bintang, You’re right this update can help people get out of trouble by guiding them to their destination in countries where they don’t speak the language.
from the 10 to 8 Person in all over world using google map facility and With this new feature google take a Great Step for there user. thanks for this amazing information
Hi Rohan, Yes, this update to the Google Maps app will be very helpful for those who travel in countries where they don’t speak the language. I hope this app helps many people navigate to their destinations more easily.
Hey Carolyn,
Good news. The google update will help many people to travel world without trouble.
Thanks to sharing this informative post.
Hi Satish, Yes, traveling in a country where you don’t speak the language can be especially difficult. This update to Google Maps can make navigating much easier there.
This is amazing and yes I have most definitely struggled to find directions to a place when everyone around you doesn’t speak the same language as you. This new update will be very helpful for travelers and tourists. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Darren, Yes, traveling in a country where you don’t know the language can be challenging. This update to Google Maps can be very helpful to many people. I hope you’re able to use it on your next trip, Darren.
This new addition to Google Maps makes my life so much easier. There are some places in Spanish that I couldn’t find out the name of it. Now with this new update, I can go wherever I want. Thanks for sharing this!
Hi Chris, Yes, this new feature in Google Maps is very handy when traveling abroad. No longer do we have to struggle when pronouncing street names in other languages.
Happy travels, Chris!