Google has a large number of applications that are very useful on a daily basis, including its translator. Its name is simply Google Translate, or Traductor, and it is one of the best applications for translate written or spoken texts, images and even web pages.
Google Translate is both simple and powerful, allowing you to translate anything in a large number of languages. We tell you what Google Translate is, how it is used and its best features. tricks to get the most out of it.
What is Google Translate
Google Translate is, as its name suggests, the google translate appwhich can also be used through their website. However, on an Android mobile it is much more convenient to use the application, since it is integrated into the system and allows us to do more than translate texts.
Unlike other Google applications, Google Translate may or may not come pre-installed on your mobile. If you can’t find it (in the app drawer it’s simply called “Translator”), then you should download the application from Google Play.
How to use Google Translate
Google Translate is easy to use in its most basic mode: translating texts from one language to another, although the interface can confuse us a little if we have not used it before. The most important thing is that configure the source and destination languages, tapping on them and choosing them from the list. The source language is the one on the left and the one on the right is what it will be translated into.
The following is simply tap on “Enter text” and start typing, to see the translation just below. Google translator translates in real time, so we can see the result as we write, although it is recommended that you press the send button when you finish, to be able to see the complete translation and with additional options such as playing it in voice or copying it to the clipboard.
The best Google Translate tricks
Google Translate has evolved over time, integrating little-known functions and partnering with Google Lens to offer its services in more places. These are the best tricks to get the most out of Google Translate.
Tap to translate
Tap to Translate is a feature that will make it easy for you to translate text on any web page, without having to switch between applications. When activated, it appears a floating translator button When you press it, it will automatically translate what we have copied to the clipboard.
This allows us to translate texts from any application easily as follows: copy the text to the clipboard and then tap the button floating. It is activated in the following way:
- Tap on your profile photo.
- Go to Settings.
- Go into Tap to translate.
- Activate the button Use Tap to translate.
- Accept the permissions requested, if applicable.
Translate web pages
Web browsers like Google Chrome already include a translation function, but if you want you can use Google Translate to translate web pages. This is something that can be done in the web version of the translator and that can also be done on Android, although in a slightly different way. It works like this:
- In your favorite browser, use the share option.
- Choose Translator in the application list.
- The website will open in the browser with a Google Translate top bar, where you can adjust the languages.
Translate without internet connection
It never hurts download the language packs of those languages that you translate most frequently. Not only does it allow you to continue using the translator without an Internet connection, but the translation is faster and more stable and makes it easier for you to use the translation with the camera. To download language packs, do the following:
- Tap on a language in the Translator interface.
- Locate the language you want to download and press the arrow icon.
- Confirm the download by tapping Discharge.
Favorite phrases
If you want, you can use Google Translate as a notebook with the most common phrases, those that you end up translating over and over again. These phrases are always accessible from the star icon that appears in the upper left corner of the interface.
For save a translation, all you have to do is press the star button on the top button panel. You can also save text transcripts for later reference.
Don’t forget about widgets
Today the Google Translate has two widgets which can be quite useful, especially during trips or if you use it very frequently. They are the following:
- Translate Quick Actions: displays quick access to the translator, with buttons to start a written, voice or camera translation, as well as starting conversation mode with a touch.
- Saved Translations: displays the list of saved translations and quick buttons to play them aloud or copy them to the clipboard.
Translate with the camera
One of the most interesting features of Google Translate is that you can translate texts captured with the mobile camera. Thus, you can use it to translate anything, including texts that you have in front of you but are not able to write yourself.
To translate using the camera you only need press the camera icon and point to the text in question. At the top you can choose the translation languages and then you just have to keep your hand steady to wait for it to be translated. Using the shutter release, you translate a specific photo, rather than keeping the real-time translation active.
Translate mobile applications
What if you want to translate texts from an app that doesn’t allow you to copy the text to the clipboard? It is possible, although it requires a few more steps than desirable. They are the following:
- Take a screenshot where the text you want to translate is clearly visible.
- Choose Share the screenshot.
- From the list of apps displayed, choose Lens.
- Switch to translation mode by pressing Translate.
Slow Please
If you are using Google Translate to learn languages or want to understand the pronunciation well when it reads the translation to you (by tapping on the translator icon), you may want to speak more slowly. It is done in the following way:
- Tap on your profile photo.
- Go to Settings.
- Tap on Speed.
- Adjust the speed to your liking. Tap the speaker icon to hear an example.
Conversation and interpreter mode
Use Google Translate to communicate with another person who does not speak your language with conversation mode or interpreter mode. The idea is the same in both cases: each person speaks in their own language and the Translator is in charge of translating what each person says into the other’s language.
- Conversation mode: accessed by tapping on the button Conversation on the main screen. Then the translator listens to both languages included and will translate everything it hears into both languages.
- The interpreter mode: It is accessed from the button shaped like chat bubbles within the mode Conversation. It does the same, but with an interface prepared to put the mobile phone on the table between the two people who are talking and putting what each one says in a chat bubble.
The transcription
If what you want is transcribe and translate a spoken textthen the tool you need to use is Transcription, accessible after pressing the microphone button, on the button of the same name.
The transcript is prepared for translate long spoken sessions from one language to another, being able to adjust the text size and save the transcription to consult it later, with the star icon.