Google Translate

Who needs a phrase took when your phone can translate and speak back to you in English?

Free Instantly break down language barriers


This free app from industry giant Google is indispensable for regular travellers, and an example of something that does perfectly what it sets out to do. Using Google Translate is simple. You just key in the phrase or words into the input box,choose the languages you wish to translate from and to (there's a choice of 50), and the answer is provided in text form.

If you install the free eSpeak app as well (which Google Translate will prompt you to do during the installation process), then your mobile device will read the translation back to you. This should help solve tricky pronunciation problems, but the automated translation doesn't give users much sense of accents and inflections.

The system works in reverse, too -you can use the voice input function to enter your desired phrase, although in practice plain text entry is more foolproof. However, it could come in handy if you meet someone on your holiday who doesn't speak any English - just give them your phone and tell them to get ta.king. Google has taken this one step further with an update earlier this year that added Conversation. Still in alpha form, this feature only works
with English and Spanish, but enables you to have a 'real-time' conversation that your phone will translate and read out. Other noises and fast-talkers cause Conversation mode some problems, but it'll be interesting to see it develop.

Another well-thought out feature is the History section. Here Google Translate logs the translations you have already made, saving users having to repeat requests. Equally useful is the ability to translate text messages, and send translations via SMS to your friends.

Google Translate also scores points for being presented in an unflashy way. First launched in January 2010, it was updated and improved earlier this year, adopting a cleaner layout and widening the choices housed in drop-down boxes.

The more complex phrases you enter, the more likely you are to get less than perfect answers, of course, but as this app is straightforward to use, useful and free, there's little reason not to install it before you go on holiday - if you can find the space for its hefty file size. Rival apps generally only offer translation between English and one other language, so you may find this is the only one you need to bother with.