Have you ever been in a foreign country and accidentally said something completely different than you intended? Like the traveler who mixed up embarazada and avergonzada, announcing to a bus full of strangers she was pregnant when she meant to say she was embarrassed! Miscommunications happen, especially when language barriers are involved. Thankfully, navigating these situations is easier than ever with the rise of sophisticated translation apps. Whether you’re exploring a bustling market, ordering food at a local restaurant, or asking for directions, having the Best Translator For Travel at your fingertips can be a game-changer.
Travel + Leisure tech expert Tom Samiljan tested some of the latest translation tools during his trips to Europe and Asia to find out which apps truly stand out. Here’s a breakdown of his findings to help you choose the best translator for travel for your next adventure.
Google Translate
How it Works: Google Translate is a powerhouse, offering written translations for text you type, speak, photograph, or even draw. For a vast number of languages, it provides audio translations, and its real-time conversation mode listens to and translates two languages simultaneously, displaying both spoken and text translations. This makes conversations flow much smoother, even when you don’t share a common tongue.
The Good: Google Translate is incredibly comprehensive, supporting a massive number of languages and features. While translations can sometimes be a bit wordy, they generally get the meaning across effectively. As an example, the French phrase “Cedez le passage” was translated as “You do not have the priority,” which, while not literal, accurately conveys the meaning for a traveler navigating road signs. For travelers needing broad coverage and multiple input methods, Google Translate is a strong contender for the best translator for travel.
The Bad: Like any automated system, Google Translate isn’t flawless. It can struggle with nuanced language and complex sentence structures. Particularly with Asian languages, the translations can sometimes miss the mark. The example of “eggplant with basil” becoming “nine eggplant” on a Chinese menu highlights that context can sometimes be lost in translation, especially with shorter phrases.
Number of Languages: Boasting an impressive 249 languages, with voice translation available for over 70, Google Translate offers unparalleled language support.
Off-Line Capability: For areas with limited connectivity, Google Translate offers downloadable translation packs for over 60 languages, ensuring you have access to translation even without internet access – a crucial feature for any best translator for travel.
Overall Assessment: While not always perfect, Google Translate’s vast language support, free price tag, and versatile features make it a top pick and a strong contender for the best translator for travel for many users.
Free; Google Play, App Store
iTranslate
How it Works: iTranslate goes beyond basic text and voice translation by offering features focused on pronunciation and ease of use for travelers. It allows you to slow down or speed up audio playback to better grasp pronunciation, a valuable tool when learning key phrases. You can also save frequently used translations as favorites or email them to yourself, effectively building a personal phrasebook within the app or in conjunction with note-taking apps like Evernote. This feature is particularly useful for travelers who need to repeatedly use specific phrases.
The Good: iTranslate excels in speed and accuracy of translation. The ability to bookmark translations is a significant time-saver, preventing you from having to re-translate common phrases like “How much does this cost?” or “Where is the restroom?”. For travelers who value efficiency and accuracy, iTranslate offers a smooth and reliable experience, making it a strong candidate for the best translator for travel focused on practical communication.
The Bad: A notable drawback of iTranslate is its phonetic English spellings for languages with different alphabets, such as Hebrew or Arabic. These phonetic transcriptions can be quite challenging and sometimes misleading for pronunciation, potentially hindering effective communication. While audio playback is available, relying solely on phonetic spellings can be problematic. Additionally, while offering a good range, its voice translation language support is less extensive than Google Translate.
Number of Languages: iTranslate supports over 100 languages in total, with voice translations available for 38 of them.
Off-Line Capability: iTranslate offers offline translation between 38 languages without restrictions on language pairs. This offline capability is a valuable asset for travelers venturing into areas with unreliable internet access, solidifying its position as a useful tool for finding the best translator for travel with offline functionality.
Overall Assessment: iTranslate is particularly strong in audio translation and user-friendly features. However, the limited number of voice languages compared to competitors and the challenging phonetic transcriptions are points to consider. It’s a solid choice, especially if audio pronunciation is a priority, but may not be the best translator for travel for users needing voice translation in a wider range of languages.
Free; Lite plans from $4.99 per week or $69.99 per year, Premium plans from $7.99 per week or $99.99 per year; Google Play, App Store
Waygo
How it Works: Waygo takes a unique approach by specializing in visual translation for East Asian languages. Simply point your phone’s camera at Chinese, Japanese, or Korean text, and Waygo instantly provides an English translation overlaid on your screen. The app also keeps a history of your translations and allows you to save favorites, making it easy to recall important translations like directions or menu items. While the free version is limited to 10 daily translations, upgrading unlocks unlimited use across all three languages.
The Good: Waygo’s photo translation is exceptionally fast and accurate, particularly for its supported languages. It successfully translated “eggplant with basil” from a Chinese menu, where Google Translate faltered. This makes Waygo an incredibly effective tool for navigating menus, signs, and other printed text in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean, making it a top contender for the best translator for travel in these regions.
The Bad: Waygo’s interface can be quite sensitive to movement, making it sometimes tricky to focus the camera and get a stable translation. Another limitation is that it typically displays only a few translated words at a time, which can be slightly less convenient for translating longer sentences or paragraphs. Furthermore, Waygo only translates into English; it does not translate English into other languages. This one-way translation capability means it needs to be used in conjunction with other translation tools for broader communication needs.
Number of Languages: Waygo currently supports three languages: Chinese, Japanese, and Korean, with plans to add more languages in the future.
Off-Line Capability: All core functionalities, except for supplemental language packs, work offline. This offline capability is crucial for travelers in areas with limited data access, reinforcing Waygo’s value as a specialized best translator for travel for East Asia.
Overall Assessment: Waygo’s strength lies in its unparalleled photo translation for Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. However, its limited language support and one-way translation mean it’s not a standalone best translator for travel for global travel. It is, however, an indispensable tool for anyone traveling in East Asia who needs to quickly and accurately decipher visual text.
Free, unlimited-use upgrade is $6.99 per language or $11.99 for all three; Google Play, App Store
Choosing the best translator for travel ultimately depends on your specific needs and travel destinations. Google Translate offers broad language coverage and versatile features, iTranslate excels in audio and user-friendliness, and Waygo shines in visual translation for East Asian languages. Consider your priorities and download the app that best suits your travel style to ensure smoother and more confident communication on your next trip.
