If you need to translate a sign, menu, or even a conversation, your iPhone can act as a translator with help from the right app. Apple’s Translate, Google Translate, Microsoft Translator, Translator with Speech, SayHi Translate, and even Siri can handle translations between English and a wide variety of other languages.
Apple’s Translate
With iOS 14, Apple unveiled its own built-in translator app that you can use to translate text and speech and carry on a real-time conversation with someone speaking a different language. Fire up the app and choose your source and target languages.
Translate text by tapping the “Enter text” space and typing what you need translated, then tap Go. The translation appears below your text. Tap the Play button to hear the translation spoken aloud. You can also tap the microphone button to speak a phrase you want translated. The translation pops up on the screen and is read aloud. To hear the translation again, tap the Play icon.
Save or Define a Phrase
Tap the Star icon next to the translated text to make it a Favorite and save the phrase for future use. Tapping the book icon will allow you to see the definition of a word. By default, the first word in the translation is highlighted and defined. You can then tap another word in the translation to see its dictionary definition.
Tap the Favorites icon in the bottom navigation to view any phrases that have been added to your Favorites list as well as any recently translated phrases. Swipe down to see the recent phrases. Swipe a recent phrase to the left to add it as a Favorite or delete it from the list.
Translate a Conversation
You can easily translate text for a back-and-forth conversation with someone speaking a different language. From the Translate section, select the languages you want, then tap one of the languages to view the Language screen. Swipe to the bottom and confirm that the option for Automatic Detection is switched on.
Next, turn your phone to landscape mode. Tap the microphone icon and start speaking in either language. The app should translate it into the other language and speak the translation. Tap the microphone icon again and speak a phrase in the other language. The app should translate it into the first language and speak the translation. Continue this way to carry on the conversation.
Google Translate
Google Translate supports more than 100 languages. The app’s home screen displays the source and target languages at the top. Just tap the name of each language if you wish to change either of them. You can then type, draw, or speak the words you want translated. You can also use a special Conversation mode to translate a real-time conversation between you and the other person.
If you typed or drew your words, tap the arrow next to the translation. Then tap the speaker icon to hear it read aloud. If you spoke the words, the translation automatically is read aloud. Just speak into the device, and Google Translate will translate it into your target language.
Conversation Mode
To translate a real-time conversation, select your languages and tap the Conversation icon. Speak a sentence or phrase in your language. Wait for the translation, then tap the icon for the other language so the other person can speak. Wait for the translation into your language. Continue this process for the rest of the conversation.
Camera Mode
To translate a sign, menu, or other piece of text with Google Translate, aim your camera at the item, and the translation conveniently appears on the screen. You can give a star to a translation to save it, a handy option if you think you'll need to refer to it again. You can also download more than 50 different languages for offline translation. Just tap one of the languages at the top and then tap the Download icon for the language you wish to use offline.
Microsoft Translator
Microsoft Translator is an effective tool, especially if you’re trying to carry on a conversation with someone else. At the app’s home screen, tap the microphone icon to speak, set your source and target languages, and speak a word, phrase, or more. Your words appear on the screen along with the translation. The app automatically reads the translation out loud. Here, you can also change the source and target languages.
If you type a word or phrase, your text will appear on the screen along with your translation. Tap the speaker icon to hear the translation. You can also translate text written in a foreign language by aiming your camera at the object. Snap a picture, and the app displays the translation on the screen.
Conversations
The Microsoft Translator app comes with a cool messaging feature for conversing with other people who use the app. By sharing a code with other users, you can initiate a messaging session in Microsoft Translator. The app will automatically translate both sides of the conversation, allowing those who don’t speak the same language to understand one another.
Translation Guide
You can download an array of languages to translate text and images offline. A handy phrase book provides common phrases and their translations for categories like travel, lodging, dining, health, and emergency. You can easily view a recent history of all translations and pin certain translations to access them more easily.
Translator with Speech
The free Translator with Speech app can translate a variety of languages via text, camera, or voice. Choose your source and target languages. Speak your text or type it and then submit it to allow the app to translate it. The app then displays your text with the translation and reads the translation out loud. You can also translate text by taking a picture with your camera. The app may ask you to highlight the text on the item for which it then displays a translation.
You can carry on a conversation with someone simply by flipping the source and target languages back and forth. The free version requires you to make in-app purchases to get voice recognition for all languages and use the app ad-free. For $0.99, a Pro version includes the voice recognition and dispenses with the ads.
SayHi Translate
The free SayHi Translate app handles text and voice translation, so it's an ideal choice for conducting a conversation. Fire up SayHi and choose your source and target languages. Type or speak, and the translation appears and is read aloud. Kudos to this app for the way it handles a back-and-forth conversation. You can first display a message to the other person in a specific language to explain that you’re going to use the app to carry on a conversation. Then tap the icon for your language and speak. The translation displays and is read by the app. Tap the icon for the other language. Your conversation companion then speaks in his or her language, and you hear the translation in your own language.
Translate With Siri
If you're running iOS 11 or higher, you can use Apple's voice assistant Siri for translation help. Activate Siri by either pressing the Home button or the side button depending on your device or via voice by saying "Hey Siri." Say the word or phrase you want Siri to translate followed by the target language.
For example, say "How do you say 'restaurant' in Russian?" Siri displays your spoken word or phrase and the translation. The voice assistant also pronounces the translation so you know how to say it yourself. You can tap the Play button next to the translation to hear it again and again.
You can also ask Siri to translate phrases. Try "How do you say 'where is the nearest art museum' in Russian?" In response, Siri displays your phrase and the translation and pronounces the translated phrase.
Correct Errors
If for some reason Siri misunderstood your question, you can correct the error without having to issue another command. Tap any area in the question, edit what Siri thinks you said, then resubmit your question.
Continue Translating
Normally you would need to specify translations with each new request, but if you say something like "Hey Siri, translate into Spanish," you won't have to repeat yourself. Now you can ask something like "When do you open for dinner?" and Siri provides the translation. Siri will then continue in that tongue, so you can ask "Hey Siri, how do you say please bring me some water?" and it continues to respond with translations in the same language.
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