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20 Powerful Language Translation Apps for Travelers

Updated on by in Mobile

A mobile translator is a very convenient application, since the smartphone is an ordinary attribute among people and when it is often necessary to translate foreign words. For example, if you are traveling or writing text in foreign language, the translator is an irreplaceable thing.

language-translation-apps

We have selected, perhaps, the best free translators that will be helpful for travelers, foreigners, students and those who are learning a new language. They are easily accessible and you can download them to your smartphone from the App Store or Google Play Store. Some programs can work without the internet (offline), other applications require constant access to the web. This will be mentioned in special category.

mobile-language-translation

Multi-Language Applications

1. Google Translate

The first thing that pops into head is translator from Google – this is one of the most advanced products available to users all over the world. Google can boast of high speed, advanced voice input, voice-over, support for handwriting and reading text from a photo.

google-translate-app

Features:

  • Supports about 103 directions of text translation.
  • Recognition of text from picture or Android/iPhone camera and the ability to translate it into 26 different languages.
  • Two-way translation of voice messages into 40 languages: text-to-speech and recognition of spoken text.
  • Support for handwriting text input when drawing on the Android device screen.
  • Selectively download language extensions when needed.
  • Add words to favorites and save translations for later use in offline mode.

If you need an offline version it’s advisable to download Google Translate in advance and the necessary language packages. The translator supports downloading dictionaries for subsequent offline work and the quantity of offline dictionaries is constantly growing.

Offline access: Yes
Platforms: iOS and Android

2. iTranslate

iTranslate supports text translation format and voice input. Translation is carried out in 92 language directions. The program saves the history of the last translated phrases, works in offline mode without any restrictions (you must first download the dictionary to your device).

itranslate-translator-dictionary

The application is absolutely free for Android and iOS users, however it broadcasts unobtrusive banners with ads in the bottom panel of the screen.

Features:

  • More than 90 directions for text translation.
  • Ability to select different regions for the selected target language.
  • Built-in dictionary, synonym base and extended descriptions for each word.
  • Support transliteration, access to previously entered phrases and words.

We also recommend to download an additional application from the same developer, a full-featured voice translator “iTranslate Voice.”

Offline access: Yes
Platforms: iOS and Android

3. Microsoft Translator

This application is designed for use in offline mode (without access to the internet) and supports 12 languages. To work in the offline mode, you must download each language package that is about 200 MB.

microsoft-translator

The interface of Microsoft Translator is quite practical and well thought out. When you first start the application, you get three buttons for quick access. You can choose the function of a voice translator, text translator or two-way translation during a conversation.

Offline access: Yes
Platforms: iOS and Android

4. Offline Dictionaries

The Offline Dictionaries application allows you to use dictionaries without connecting to the network. This is convenient, for example, if you are on an airplane, go abroad, need to work without connection to the internet or just want to save battery.

The application supports more than 50 multilingual offline dictionaries including English, French, German, Spanish, Arabic, Japanese, Korean, Hindi, Hebrew, Russian, Italian, Chinese, Portuguese, Dutch, Czech. In addition to the dictionaries, the database includes synonyms and anagrams.

Dictionaries are downloaded on SD card when you launch the application for the first time, so you can use the dictionaries without internet.

Offline access: Yes
Platforms: Android

5. Language Translator

If you need a quick translation, then the Language Translator is the best option for this. The application was designed for maximum simplicity, and is ideal for novice users. Language Translator has two translation functions: typing and speaking.

Offline access: Yes
Platforms: Android

6. PONS Online Dictionary

PONS Online Translator is a dictionary with the functions of an interpreter. Thus, the user receives not only the translation of the word, but also the context. Since some words may have several meanings, PONS offers several options. PONS is great for searching and translating phrases.

pons-online-translator

Offline access: Yes
Platforms: iOS and Android

7. Translate Voice

This application is aimed to help every human that need help in translating conversations and will be helpful during your travel.

Translate Voice is a good application for voice translation. You can say a word or read the entire paragraph and the application will recognize and translate it into the selected language.

Translate Voice is especially useful in social situations, when typing text is not entirely convenient, but you need to overcome a complex language barrier.

Offline access: No
Platforms: iOS and Android

8. Multi-Dictionary + Thesaurus

This app is a collection of the best dictionaries around the world. This dictionary contains synonyms, dictionaries of meanings, thesaurus and dictionary for learning languages.

multi-dictionary-thesaurus

The app supports more than 60 languages and provides more than 700 dictionaries. Download the needed language to your phone and use it everywhere you need without using the internet.

Offline access: Yes
Platforms: Android

9. Reverso Context

How many times have you faced that the ordinary translator doesn’t understand the context? With this application you won’t be misunderstood as it contains millions of examples from real texts and has a powerful search engine.

By combining a simple and powerful search engine and several full-length dictionaries, Reverso Context provides translation and examples of using almost any word and expression.

Offline access: Yes
Platforms: iOS and Android

10. Linguee

You can download and use Linguee dictionaries for free and use them without an internet connection. In particular, this allows you to search for the translation of foreign words, while abroad, without access to the network.

Among functions like voice recognition you can also see examples of sentences that use the searched word.

Offline access: Yes
Platforms: iOS and Android

11. Speak & Translate – Translator

The application supports such variants of translation: text to text, voice to text and voice to voice. Supports Handoff, iCloud and vidgets so you can freely use this application on iPhone or iPad.

Here you will find more than 42 languages for voice translation and 100 languages for text. The quality of the translation is that both speakers can guess what everyone wanted to say.

Offline access: No
Platforms: iOS

12. TAKEASY

takeasy-translator-interpreter

Do you want to communicate with foreigners without a language barrier? TAKEASY is convenient to use as it has only one main interface. You can choose “Translation Conversation”, “Image Translation” or “Remote Translation.” Also it as available to choose the type of information input for translation (input by voice or text). The new version of TAKEASY supports 27 languages for translation.

Offline access: No
Platforms: iOS and Android

13. TripLingo

This application was designed for international travelers. With its help you can learn essential phrases (including slang), instantly translate your voice or connect to a live translator. Also you can get a brief course to get closer to local culture and have an access to a live human translator for additional fee (~$3/minute).

Offline access: Yes
Platforms: iOS and Android

14. SayHi Translate

A great translator with user-friendly interface that support more than 90 languages and dialects.

sayhi-translate

This application will be perfect for those who travel to the foreign country or talk to people who doesn’t speak your language. To use the application you should allow access to your microphone, then tap on button and start speaking the text you need to translate. You can also adjust the speed, faster or slower, to find the perfect pace.

Offline access: No
Platforms: iOS and Android

15. Forvo Pronunciation Guide

Forvo Pronunciation Guide lets you listen to, learn and record pronunciations in 340 languages. This application allows you to search words and listen to pronunciations from native speakers, compare different accents that were recorded from native speakers, listen to male and female voices.

Forvo will help you resolve any doubts you have about how words and expressions are pronounced. For traveling, communicating with others who don’t speak your language, and much more.

Offline access: No
Platforms: iOS and Android

Spanish

16. SpanishDict Translator

This translator will help you not only in your trip, but also will help to learn new language! Here you can find English-Spanish translator and dictionary, conjugation tables for all tenses, language guide, interactive flashcards.

spanishdict-translator

Offline access: No
Platforms: iOS and Android

17. English – Spanish. Translator

You can maintain a conversation, use a voice translator to translate various texts. You can use the voice input method to have a quick translation of words and phrases. Also there is a dictionary of English and Spanish synonyms.

Offline access: No
Platforms: Android

18. SpanishTranslate

This free application can translate words and texts from English (or Russian) into Spanish and from Spanish to English.

A very useful application for easy and fast translation, which can be used as a dictionary. If you are a student, tourist or traveler, it will help you learn the language!

Offline access: No
Platforms: Android

Chinese

19. Pleco Chinese Dictionary

Undoubtedly the best Chinese (English-Chinese-English) dictionary for iOS and Android. Needs no introduction. The free version includes very good basic dictionaries, which should suffice in 90% of cases of daily life. For specific needs, you can buy additional dictionaries, optical character recognition (OCR), flashcards and more.

Offline access: No
Platforms: iOS and Android

20. Waygo Visual Translator

The free version includes a good OCR that translates words into menus or street names. Just put your iPhone on the name of the dish and get instant (and often quite understandable) translation.

Offline dictionaries: Yes
Platforms: iOS and Android

Author: Hannah Sharkstone

Hannah is an academic writer at EssayShark.com and a freelance blogger. Her main goal is to share the expertise and add value to the community. In her spare time she is working on her painting skills.

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