Using the Google Translate app while traveling

Using Google Translate is simple and intuitive. It’s a great way to translate quickly and on-the-go. I’ve used it abroad many times. Here’s how to use the app while traveling.

First, download it from the app store. It’s called Google Translate. Or you can use it on a computer. The app is easier for traveling though.

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The basics

When you open the app, you’ll see options for two languages. You need to pick one you understand and then a second one to translate.

For example, here I will write something in English and ask for it to be translated into Italian:

Once I make my translation, I also have other options:

I love the speaker button (the one next to Italian in the blue background of the photo above) because when you press it, it speaks for you. This is great to help you learn the proper way to say something. And it’s also helpful in case you can’t say it and need to hold your phone up to someone while you’re traveling to ask or tell them something.

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You can reverse the translation by hitting the two arrows at the top too.

If you want to translate what someone is telling you, pick the language they are speaking and hold the phone up to them to record them speaking. Press this button:

The phone will then listen to the person speak and translate it for you. In the example above, it would listen to the person in Italian and translate it into English.

transcribe feature

The ‘Transcribe’ feature is helpful as well (see photos above) if someone is going to be talking for a while, such as giving a speech.

It can translate at length in real-time.

using the camera

Using the camera (what the app calls Google Lens) is really helpful when it comes to anything in writing.

You can use the app to hover your phone’s camera over a menu, for example, to translate it. Or if you have a photo saved in your phone with something that needs translating, you can use this option for that too. You would click the bottom left photo icon in the image above to find a photo in your phone to translate.

download translations

Another important note when using Google Translate – you can download translations. So if you’re traveling without internet you can still use the app. You must download in advance while you’re on the internet though and make sure you have enough space for storage.

The app will tell you when you have an update available too (above).

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♬ Vivere Ancora (Remastered) – Gino Paoli

You’ll see the option to download a language when you first pick a language to translate. Look at the first photo in this blog post and you’ll see it says: “Translate even when you’re offline by downloading an offline translation file.”

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