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If you’re hosting out-of-town visitors, receiving holiday cards from far-away lands or need other foreign language translation services, check out Google Translate, a free service that will translate text from one language into another. Choose from over 60 languages as your source and destination languages.
Google Translate Website
The Google Translate website, www.translate.google.com, offers easy and instant translation services. Put the text in the box with the red arrow shown above, choose the source language and the destination language and click Translate. The translation will appear in the right box (shown with a blue arrow above).
Not sure of the source language? Google can try to figure that out for you. If you don’t select a source language, Google will try to detect the language for you.
If you want to hear how a word is pronounced, click on the speaker button that appears in the bottom right corner of the text box when a word is entered into the box.
Google Translate Apps
Google Translate is also available as a free app for the iPhone and Android phones. The app allows you to speak the phrase instead of typing it (for 17 languages) and listen to the translation (for 24 languages).
You can save favorite phrases so you don’t have to keep entering them repeatedly. The app even gives you the option of spelling out the translation of non-Roman alphabets phonetically (for example, Chinese, Japanese, etc.).
Earlier this month the Android app was updated to recognize handwriting in Chinese, Japanese, English, Spanish, French, Italian, and German.
You can get the app here:
Google Translate in the Android Market
Google Translate for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch in the iTunes App Store
Google Translate Browser Add-Ons
If you frequently visit foreign websites, check out the Google Translate Add-On for your browser. By adding Google Translate to your browser, you can instantly translate websites from a foreign language into your native language.
Here are the links to add Google Translate to your browser:
Google Translate for Internet Explorer
Word to the Wise
Google Translate is especially helpful for casual translations. I wouldn’t suggest relying on it to translate a legal document or to use in a business transaction where precision is essential.
Also be warned not to take offense if the translation turns out to be something much different than intended. Translations aren’t guaranteed to be completely accurate and local expressions may not translate well.
For example, if you use the word “jolie” Google Translate may assume that you are referring to Angelina Jolie.
But of course, that’s correct. We were speaking of Angelina Jolie, weren’t we?
Have you used Google Translate? Do you have travel plans where the Google Translate app would come in handy? Do you need to translate websites often? Let us know in the Comments section below!
* Angelina Jolie image by Melena Rubinkas
Hi Carolyn,
I travel to Mexico a bit in the winter and this will come in handy. I have been using Free Translation.com, but this looks like it has a few more features such as the app for the iphone. You are correct in that it often is not the exact translation, but certainly helps when trying to understand a foreign language.
Hi Cathy, This app will be very handy during your trip to Mexico. If you’re using the app on a smartphone, just be sure to use it with Wi-Fi only when you’re out of the country. You don’t want to be paying international data charges which are very expensive!
It’s often difficult to get exact translations but Google Translate will certainly be helpful to you with your translation needs.
Enjoy your trip! 🙂
I haven’t used Google Translate much, but when I was in Italy in September, the waiter at the pizza restaurant used it all the time. He carried his laptop to our table and we spoke via Google Translate, it was a new experience for me and a lot of fun, and it actually worked 🙂
Hi Jens, that’s interesting that your Italian waiter brought a laptop to your table to use Google Translate. So was he translating from Italian to Norwegian?
Imagine if he had an iPad at the table, complete with the menu and the Google Translate app. That would have been even handier! 🙂
Useful information Carolyn!
I have used Google translate very often, though as you rightly mentioned- sometimes the translations are not really correct or perfect, though I still wonder why?
I have never tried it on any of the phones you mentioned, though I guess it would work amazingly on those as well.
Thanks for sharing, and I hope you are going to take a break now with the holidays all so near-by 😉
Hi Harleena, Yes, the translations aren’t perfect which is important to realize if the translation comes out odd or insulting. Keep a good sense of humor and remember that it’s a free service and all will be good! 🙂
I use translate fro Chrome, but just went to the website and tried to translate things into Chinese. People’s names don;t translate so well but Chinese stir fry did! I shall use it to say good morning to my Chinese students! I use Google translate on Hotcoo, a Chinese site but it translates to something weird usually. I can log in though and have put photos on there; I even get comment in Chinese.
I can’t understand people wasting food at Christmas. I did a stir fry at lunch time with my leftovers and I did a gourmet salad for dinner with prawns, salmon, chicken and ham; perhaps i have a better class of leftover? 🙂 Chicken and prawn cocktail crisps for supper; yummy. My guests enjoyed the food and drinks yesterday. The prawns were from Vietnam, they looked good but I think Icelandic prawns have the edge. They provided a topic of conversation because they came with dips and I actually got dips, others found the dips missing!
I hope you are having a good Christmas; new year resolutions next!
Hi Mike, I’m glad you are finding Google Translate useful for your recipes! The lucky Chinese people get to enjoy your yummy recipes, very cool.
I’m certain your guests did enjoy the food and drinks you provided to them. With all of your recipes, you had your choice of many tasty treats for them.
My week with everyone being home from work and school is turning out busier than I thought but it’s great having the family together.
I hope you have a relaxing day planned, recovering from having your big party. 🙂
Ha Ha. Tres jolie, Carolyn.
Here’s another Google site I’ve used and find fun: http://www.trails.com/googlemap.aspx
Lee
Hi Lee, I’m glad you enjoyed this post. Thanks for posting that site. I didn’t know about that one. That would have been a great site to use when I lived in the UK. They have so many wonderful footpaths there, it could have been fun to map them out, though that site doesn’t look as if it covers the UK yet.
I will try it in my area to see how far my walks are. Happy New Year, Lee!
Google translate does an amazing job. A life-saver at times, esp when you can translate an entire page (just type in the URL of the page to be translated). It has happened many times for us before that, our app has been reviewed by an international blogger, Spanish, Italian, etc. And Sing I have a google alert setup, I get a notification. But when the post is in a forein language that I can’t understand, Google translate comes to help! Hugely.
Hi iRewardChart, So how do you say Best App Ever in every language?
That’s wonderful that your amazing app is receiving worldwide attention. The more people who use your app, the better place the world will be.
You should check out the Add-On for Google Translate in your favorite browser. It makes using the service even easier!
Best wishes for much continued success in 2012!
I have the FUNNIEST Google translate story.
You may know that I have a 14 year old daughter, who has Down syndrome. Earlier this year, she had an assignment in French class (all kids have to learn French here in Canada) about fashion. She had to prepare a poster, detailing different articles of clothing, styles, trends etc. Julia was very diligent and created the poster on her own, in French, but then needed help writing up a presentation to go with the poster and to deliver to her class. I was swamped at work and kept putting her off.
Then, one evening, she came and told me that she had done it on her own. She handed me a paper, with several paragraphs, in pretty decent French. I was shocked! Julia is a smart cookie, but it’s hard enough for her to communicate in English – I couldn’t believe she had done this in French all on her own. I told her how proud I was; I asked if anyone had helped her, and she said (with a huge smile) “Of course not Mommy. I just went to Google translate, typed it in English and then I printed it out!”
Needless to say, I think I was EVEN PROUDER that she had the sense to navigate her way to Google translate and use that resource. I had never even told her about it!
So if Julia can leverage Google Translate to her advantage, so can anyone!
Hi Ruth, You’re right, that is the best Google Translate story! Your daughter was brilliant to use the service to translate her presentation. She must have been quite proud and what a great way to bolster her self-esteem. I bet she beamed during her presentation, knowing she cleverly figured it out all by herself.
Thanks so much for sharing this wonderful story with us, Ruth! 🙂
Ruth – That was an awesome story about your daughter, I am also very much fascinated with some little things that my daughter does, makes me very proud. I am sure every parent will feel the same way.
I love Ruth’s Google translate story. Best every Ruth and I would be proud of Julia too!
I have used this actually Carolyn. I have a friend named Angel who comments on some of my posts. I’m sure you’ve seen him. Well, he actually came to me for help, I sent him to my free training site, we’ve corresponded many times and he learned how to create his first blog. I’m so proud of what he’s done so far.
He lives in Spain and of course, writes the majority of his posts and other things online in his native language. But you know me, I want to be supportive so I uploaded Google translate so that I could actually read what he wrote and comment from time to time. So far, it’s worked wonders. Great invention and a true life saver for me.
Thanks for sharing Carolyn, really great tip!
Hi Adrienne, Thank you for sharing your inspirational story with us! I’m sure that meant the world to Angel that you not only helped him launch his blog but also that you took the time to translate his writing so you could support him further. You truly are a treasure, Adrienne!
I’m so glad Google Translate helped you and Angel. I hope others are helped by this great service as it has helped you, Angel, Ruth and Julia!
Thank you for stopping by and sharing your story with us, Adrienne. 🙂
I am the family’s go to guy for tech support. An in-law lives in italy and the laptop that they bought was in italian. Just imagine me helping out. I have skype, team viewer and firefox on google translate.
Hi Jim, Welcome to The Wonder of Tech! Very impressive, not only for your technical knowledge and your generosity in helping your family with their tech issues, but also for your bravery by navigating tech in a foreign language. Well done!
Hi Carolyn,
I have used Google Translate on a number of occasions. Most of the time it has been very useful and quite effective, but there have been a few “hiccups” here and there.
But I’d rather have it than not as it is use exceeds the hiccups.
Hello Jack, you’re right, Google Translate isn’t perfect but it is very handy to have. To have an instant, free translation service available wherever you go is simply amazing. 🙂
Thank you for your sharing. I also used the online translation, and sometimes it shows some mistake, but it is helpful for some people do not know any about foreign language. So I would like to tey the APP.
Hi Sophia, Welcome to The Wonder of Tech! You’re right, Google Translate isn’t perfect, but it sure is helpful to overcome language barriers. I hope you do try the free app. You never know when it will come in handy to help you translate information. 🙂
Hey Carolyn ,
Google translate box is there on my blog. If someone wants to translate , they can do it very easily.
I found that it needs further development till it translates it in more robust manner. There are problems that are difficult for translators to overcome. For example ” I am leaving today” in English is gender neutral but in my native language is an incorrect translation because gender is not specified. I think each language construct makes it more difficult for programmers to make it better.
But it is one of the best tool available and free too :). Besides no one would mind meeting Angelina 😉
Hi Ashvini, you bring up a great point. Many languages are not gender-neutral, so the translations aren’t exact. But Google Translate will give you a solid idea of the gist of the message.
Those who study other languages and become fluent still are acquiring a skill of value. But for those who face language barriers, Google Translate can be a valuable tool.
I’m glad you enjoyed the Angelina picture! 🙂
Esto es tan chévere, ¿qué van a pensar en la próxima?
Tienes razón, esto es muy cool. ¿Quién sabe lo que Google va a hacer ahora?
I havent used the Google Translate yet, I have heard many bloggers using it to make their blogs and comments multi-lingual.
You have given an awesome review of the tool here and I am sure one will find it very convincing to give it a try after reading this.
Thanks for sharing.
Hi Praveen, I use Google Translate quite a bit. I find it handy to have it added to my Chrome browser. I don’t have it as a plugin to my blog but I know others do. I try to keep my plugins to a minimum, but I know that this is a very helpful tool for many.
Maybe next they will help me sell some insurance, huh?………:)
Bill, Yesterday I went on a tour of the Herr’s Potato Chip factory in Pennsylvania. They had a film about the history of the company and I thought of you. Fairly early in the company’s history their factory burned to the ground. They were debating whether to continue the company and then their insurance agent came by and gave them a check for the total amount so they could save the business.
You should really stop by there next time you’re in Pennsylvania. The chips are yummy too!
Happy New year, Carolyn.
I used Google translate to say ‘what are you doing’ in Chinese to a Chinese student. She replied “看着照片” (looking at photos). lol She had her photo taken in traditional dress and wanted to show me. Serves me right for trying to be clever!
I think 2012 will be challenging, every other year has been so far! the government here can’t cut down any more so the economy might start to improve. Our exports to Europe will be a problem though as they adopt austerity programs. I shall start my new website to keep busy!
Hi Mike, That’s great you are using Google Translate to communicate with the Chinese students. Very handy for you to send messages to them.
Yes, 2012 will be a key time for Europe. With the Olympics headed to London this summer, the economy should get a healthy boost.
Best wishes for the launch of your new site, Mike. Make sure you keep us posted so we can come visit!
A very happy and properous New Year to you, Mike! 🙂
I have also used Google translation service.It really help you very much but it requires lots of modification as it does not properly translate from one language to other.But Nonetheless a great tool for the transalation.
Hello Hy-rail, Welcome to The Wonder of Tech! Yes, Google Translate isn’t perfect, but it sure is a fantastic free service that takes a lot of hassle away from trying to translate text into a different language.
HI Carolyn,
Thanks.I am glad to be here.