Whether you are going on vacation or on a business trip, it is important to know some phrases in the local language of the country you are visiting. In doing so, you will enrich your traveling experience, while locals will appreciate your efforts to be understood.
A small dictionary or book with the most common phrases will help you properly ask where the bathroom is, read a café menu, or ask for directions on the street. Unfortunately, physical dictionaries can be cumbersome and take a long time to go through in a search for a needed word. Luckily, most app stores nowadays have various high-rated apps, from simple dictionaries to voice recognition software. You may be wondering – are there any offline translators that can work without the Internet abroad? There definitely are some good options out there! Read on to find out more.
Offline Translators You Should Check Out
- Google Translate.
You can safely count this app among your travel essentials when going abroad. It supports over 100 languages. What is more, this app offers offline translations limited to 59 languages and an ability to instantly interpret bilingual conversations in approximately 43 languages.
- Microsoft Translator.
This is another option for offline use on the go. It offers support for over 60 languages for interpreting text, conversations, voice, as well as text recognition from photos. In addition, this app comes with a phrasebook that features pronunciation guides to help you learn different words and phrases in the places you visit.
- TripLingo.
This application allows instant voice interpretation in over 40 languages, offers a 10,000-word offline dictionary, but also contains many other features that make it the perfect travel companion. This app has a collection of about 1000 phrases in local slang so that you could understand the language more deeply. In addition, it provides several important tools like a tip calculator and currency converter, which will make your stay in a foreign country easier.
- iTranslate.
iTranslate is another good option. It includes features like text, live, and speech translation just to name a few. One of its interesting features is the ability to switch between different dialects to help you communicate effectively. It supports over 100 languages and provides offline support in over 40 languages.
- Translate Now.
This is an iOS travel app that, in addition to usual functions, also comes with many useful add-ons such as dark mode, Siri shortcuts, translation widget, phrasebook, offline mode, and more. It allows you to perform voice interpretation and live translations with equal ease.
- Speak & Translate.
This is another exclusive app for iOS. It offers iCloud integration, live voice recognition, covers 117 languages, and of course has an offline mode.
- Naver Papago.
This AI-based app supports over 13 languages. It has a built-in dictionary that, in addition to the history of all your previous searches, allows you to discover the meanings of different words. Some of its useful features include live text, voice and audio interpretation, text from image recognition, and offline mode.
- Apple Translate.
Check this one out if you are looking for an offline translator for the iPhone. This app currently supports 11 languages and allows users to translate voice and text in all supported languages. You can even interpret conversations and download specific languages without an internet connection.
Despite applications’ hefty functionality, travelers often need more than digital help. If you find yourself in a situation where you require a specialist’s aid abroad, you can turn to professional translation services. Their seasoned experts can offer you a variety of services such as transcription or interpretation.
All Set Up For an Adventure!
We are all very dependent on the Internet when traveling, but an online translator may not always be an option due to poor connection or expensive roaming. In these cases, offline applications will come to the rescue. We hope that after reading this article you will be well-equipped to battle any tricky linguistic situation abroad and come out on top!
BIO: Christian Duke
Christian is an experienced writer and aspiring linguist who loves tackling different topics and presenting his readers with interesting and informative articles. He uses his tips, findings, and personal experience to make every piece of writing helpful as well as easily digestible. Christian worked internationally as a freelance interpreter, so his expertise on many linguistics-related topics can not be over-enthused.