Need to translate speech or text on the go? There are several mobile apps that can get the job done, but for those with an iPhone or iPad, Apple offers its own app. Unveiled with iOS 14, the Translate app supports 18 languages, including English, Spanish, French, Italian, German, Russian, Portuguese, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Ukrainian, Polish, Arabic, Dutch, Indonesian, Thai, Turkish, and Vietnamese. Some are also available to download for offline access.
With iOS 17 and iPadOS 17, or higher, you can see translation in real time as you type or speak your words, copy and paste a translation, and point your camera at text to see the overlaid translation. Now, here’s how to translate text and speech on your Apple device.
Translate Text and Speech
Ready to translate? Your first step within the app should be to choose the source language (the one that needs to be translated) and the target language (the one you're translating to). Tap the down arrow for the first language, if it’s not already set correctly, and change it to the language you want. Do the same for the second language.
(Credit: Lance Whitney / Apple)Tap anywhere in the space below the listed language and enter the text. As you type, the translation appears for each word in real time. You'll also notice that the keyboard will change to include the characters and symbols for the selected language.
For instance, the Ukrainian keyboard will display the Ukrainian alphabet, the Arabic keyboard will show Arabic script, and the Japanese keyboard will display Japanese kanji. Predictive text also changes based on the language.
(Credit: Lance Whitney / Apple)Start typing a word in the language you chose, and the suggestions display words in that language. Tap Next on the keyboard. Then tap the Play button next to your original words and/or the translation to hear each one spoken aloud.
(Credit: Lance Whitney / Apple)If you’d rather speak your phrase, tap the microphone icon. Wait for the Listening message to appear on the screen and then speak. Your words then appear on the screen as you talk; make sure they match what you say. The translation pops up on the screen. Tap the Play icon to hear the translation spoken aloud.
(Credit: Lance Whitney / Apple)Want to quickly switch the source and target languages? Tap the squiggly line in between them. You or someone else can then type or speak in the new source language and wait for the translation.
(Credit: Lance Whitney / Apple)For gendered languages that use masculine, feminine, and other gender words, you can view gender-based alternatives for people and objects. This way, you’re able to tweak the translated text based on gender. To enable this, tap the ellipsis icon at the top of the Translation screen and select Show Grammatical Gender.
(Credit: Lance Whitney / Apple)Typically, the app needs an internet connection to translate, but you can download specific languages for offline translation. Tap the ellipsis icon in the upper right and select Download Languages. To download a language, tap the Download button next to it.
(Credit: Lance Whitney / Apple)Manage Your Translations
After the text is translated, a set of icons pop up underneath it. If you tap the arrow icon, it will show the translation in full screen. From this view, you can select the Play button to listen to the phrase or the dialog balloon to return to normal view.
(Credit: Lance Whitney / Apple)Tap the star icon to add the translated phrase to a list of favorites. You can then choose the the Favorites icon at the bottom of the screen to access all the translations you’ve saved. To remove a phrase as a favorite, swipe it to the left and tap the star icon.
(Credit: Lance Whitney / Apple)You can get definitions of any word in the original phrase or the translation. Tap the icon that looks like a book below the translation. The first word in the translation is highlighted and defined. Tap any other word to see its dictionary definition.
(Credit: Lance Whitney / Apple)Want to send a translation to someone? Tap the clipboard icon below the translation, and the phrase is copied to the clipboard. You can then open an app or file and paste the phrase.
(Credit: Lance Whitney / Apple)You can also remove a translation from the home screen if you no longer need it. To delete a translation, swipe it to the left and tap the trash can icon.
(Credit: Lance Whitney / Apple)Translate a Real-Time Conversation
You can also use the Translate app to interpret a conversation between two people. To do this, tap the Conversation icon at the bottom. If necessary, tap the two listed languages to change them. Tap the ellipsis icon at the top for more options. Choose Detect Language, and the app will automatically detect what's being spoken.
(Credit: Lance Whitney / Apple)Instead of tapping the microphone button each time someone wants to speak, select Auto Translate, and the app will determine when one person starts and stops speaking. By default, translations appear on the screen but are not spoken. The Play Translations option will make sure each side of the conversation is automatically read aloud.
(Credit: Lance Whitney / Apple)Now tap the microphone icon to start speaking. If you have all the new options turned on, you won’t need to tap any buttons or icons. Just speak, and the app will translate each side of the conversation.
Switch Between Side by Side and Face to Face Modes
Conversations have two modes you can choose depending on how you wish to hold your device. Tap the View link at the top to switch between Side by Side mode and Face to Face mode and then position your device accordingly.
(Credit: Lance Whitney / Apple)Side by Side mode is for when you and the other person are sitting next to one another. You hold the device horizontally in front of you so that the person next to you can view their side of the conversation. Face to Face mode is intended for when you're conversing face to face. You place the phone vertically between you and the other person so that each end of the phone is oriented for them to read the conversation.
(Credit: Lance Whitney / Apple)Translate Text From Your Camera
With iOS/iPadOS 17 or higher, you can point your camera at text and see the overlaid translation in real time. Tap the Camera icon in the Translate app, then tap the displayed languages to change them, as needed. now point your phone’s camera at the text you want translated. The translation should appear on the screen.
(Credit: Lance Whitney / Apple)Select the flashlight icon if you need to throw some light onto the scene. You can capture the translated text by selecting the shutter button. Tap the Share icon to share the translated image via email, text, or other method.
Translate From an Image, Website, or File
Using the Camera feature, you can also translate text from an existing photo in your library. After setting the languages, tap the Photos icon to the left of the shutter button. Browse through your photo library until you find the image you want. Select that image, and the overlaid translation appears.
(Credit: Lance Whitney / Apple)Want to translate text from a website, document, or app outside of the Translate app? Just select the text you need translated and tap the Translate command from the menu. The translated text appears in a small window. You can then hear the translation read aloud or copy and paste the translated text. Tap the Change Language command to select a new target language.
(Credit: Lance Whitney / Apple)