Google Translate

Globalization took the world by storm and changed our lives forever. Telecommunications have shaped a new way of living, working, and traveling, and have connected us with people from all over the world. Nowadays, communicating with people from other countries and in different languages has become the norm for many but, sometimes, knowing how to speak in English simply is not enough.

Google was one of the first tech companies to invest in the industry of translation and develop a product that could help anyone with Internet access to interact with other people in different languages. Over the years, the Google Translate database has expanded exponentially, and not only is it quite successful at providing a decent translation, but it also includes one of the largest sets of languages available.

Useful features of Google Translate

The Google Translate app is quite straightforward and easy to use. The UI is also very user-friendly. Simply type or paste the text that you want to translate in the left box, and Google Translate will automatically detect the language you are writing in. If it is wrong, simply choose the correct language from the box at the top. Then, on the right box, select the language you want the text to be translated into and let the app do the work. The translation will show up automatically or after a few seconds, depending on the length of the text. Besides the basic translation feature, these are some other functionalities that elevate the user experience:

• Translate with your camera: (This feature is only available for Android devices) To translate written text, simply open the Google Camera app and, at the bottom of the screen, tap Translate. Then, point the camera at the text you do not understand and tap Capture. Google Translate will provide the translation of the text shown in the shot.
• Active transcription: The Google Translate app allows you to translate spoken text. This feature is also available for Android devices only. To use the Live Transcription feature, open the Google Translate app, tap on Speak, and then Transcribe. At the bottom of the screen, choose the languages you are translating from and into. Once it is done, you can save your transcription on the app.
• Translate without Internet: If you know that you will need to use Google Translate and you are not sure if you will have access to the Internet to do so, simply download the language you will need in advance. Bear in mind that, to do so, you will need to be connected to a Wi-Fi network. In order to download a language, tap the language at the top and then tap Download (not all languages are available for download).
• Upload documents: If you need to translate an entire document, simply upload the file, tap Translate, and wait for the finished document. Once the translation is done, tap the Download button to access the new, translated file.
• Translate websites: Google Translate can also be used to translate complete websites. Bear in mind that this feature is not supported in all regions. To do this, you can use Google Translate on your mobile browser or use the Chrome iOS app.

How to install the app

The Google Translate app is available for iOS and Android devices. Keep in mind that some features are only available for users with Android devices. To download the app, simply go to the App Store or Google Play app, look up the Google Translate app, and tap the Install button. The first time you open the app, you will be asked to choose your primary language and the language you translate into the most.