Google Translate and its 8 Lesser Known Features

Google Translate becomes an extremely useful tool for translating words and sentences from one language to another. It supports a number of languages from around the world. You can use this translation service on your iPhone, iPad, Android and other devices. If you have used the app, you may have used it only for written translations. In fact, the app can do much more than that. You need to learn some of these tips on how to use Google Translate effectively. Here are 10 lesser-known features of Google Translate…

8 Little-Known Things About Google Translate:

1- Download Translations for Offline Use

You can use Google Translate to download various languages to your device, so you can translate offline as well. This feature is really useful as it helps you translate languages even when you don’t have an internet connection. The feature continues to work even in countries where the app is blocked for any reason.

1. Launch the Google Translate app on your device.
2. Tap the user icon in the upper right corner.
3. Select the option that says Downloaded languages.
4. On the screen that opens, you will see a list of languages that you can download to your device for offline use. Select the download icon for the language you want to download.
5. Now you can translate in your downloaded languages without internet.

2- Delete Translation History

Google Translate keeps a history of your translations and you can view this history in the app at any time. If you don’t want someone to have access to this history, you can delete the history from your phone.

1. Launch the app and tap the user icon in the upper right corner.
2. On the screen that opens, select the “History” option.
3. In the window that opens, tap the three dots in the upper right and tap the “Clear All History” option.
4. To clear your translation history, select the “Clear all” option on the prompt that appears on your screen.

3- Use Google Translate as a Dictionary

If you have Google Translate on your device, you don’t need a dictionary. This is because this app can bring you definitions of your words in the same translation interface. This feature stands out as a lesser-known but extremely useful feature of the app.

1. Tap on your source language and select Detect Language.
2. Select English as the target language to get word definitions in English.
3. Type a word and let the app translate it for you.
4. Just below the translation box you will see a section labeled Definitions. This is where the word you type shows its dictionary meaning.

4- Translate Images

One of the really helpful Google Translate tips is to use the visual translations feature. You can point your camera at something and the Google Translate app will translate the text in that picture for you in real time. This feature does not require you to type foreign characters in the image.

1. Access the Google Translate app.
2. Tap the camera option.
3. Point your camera at the foreign characters you want to translate and it will instantly translate on your screen.
4. If you want to get translations of certain elements in your camera frame, tap the “Scan” option at the bottom and let Google Translate scan your image.
5. Tap a word and the word will be translated on your screen.
6. If you have saved a photo of a foreign text on your phone, you can tap the images below to translate it in the Google Translate app.

5- Use Conversation Mode for Effortless Translation

Speech mode allows you to translate voice inputs without having to touch any options. When you turn this mode on, it’s enough for you and the other party to talk as you normally would. Google Translate translates your conversations in real time.

1. Open the Google Translate app.
2. Tap the conversation option.
3. Tap the “Auto” icon in the middle and Google Translate will automatically identify the languages spoken.
4. You and the other person can both start talking and see real-time translations on your screen.
5. You can change the translations to manual mode by tapping the microphone icon in the left and right corners of your screen.

6- Save Translations for Later Access

You can use Google Translate to save your favorite words and phrases. So you can quickly access them later. This way you can create your own little dictionary that provides translations for the words and phrases you choose.

1. Launch the Google Translate app.
2. You will see the star icon in the top left. Select this icon and add the phrases and phrases you want to save from there.
3. Tap the star icon to access your saved translations.

7- Make Your Translations Full Screen

If the person you want to show the Google Translate translation to has vision problems, you can have your Google translations appear full screen on your device. This way, the text will appear at a significantly larger size and most people will be able to read it.

1. Perform your translation on Google Translate.
2. Tap the three dots in the translated text section and select Full Screen.
3. Your translated text will now take up your entire screen.

8- Handwrite on Google Translate

You don’t necessarily have to type text to translate. You can use Google Translate to write words (handwritten) to translate your words and sentences into the language of your choice. This feature can come in handy when someone is used to handwriting rather than typing.

1. Open the Google Translate app and tap the pencil icon next to where you’re typing the text.
2. Type your text in the type here section.
3. You will see the translation of your handwritten text at the top of your screen.