Traveling abroad for vacation, study, or just to satisfy your inner wanderlust can be incredibly exciting but sometimes a little bit scary — especially when you don’t know the language. But that shouldn’t stop you from exploring all the amazing countries this world has to offer.
These are different times. Tourists no longer have to wander around awkwardly carrying phrase books in order to string a decent sentence together. Nowadays, there’s an app for that.
From getting signage translations via photo capture to conversion from audio to text, here are some apps which will help break through the language barrier when traveling overseas.
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Google Translate has over 500 million users, and with good reason.
Cost: Free.
Available for iOS and Android.
There’s a reason Google Translate has over 500 million users. The app offers a multitude of cool features which makes it easy for travelers to navigate social situations while abroad. Users can insert text in one language and receive the immediate translation in another. You can even write it in using your finger or a stylus.
Another option is speaking directly into the microphone for instant translation which allows you to engage in a real-time conversation with a native speaker. It really is like having an interpreter on hand. As if that isn’t enough, the app is able to translate the text found in images using your smartphone camera. And to avoid exorbitant roaming charges, you can access up to 59 languages offline.
Duolingo is easy to navigate.
Cost: Free. Premium ad-free subscription available for $9.99 a month.
Available for iOS and Android.
Duolingo is one of the most popular apps for language learning, with over 200 million active users. Available languages include Spanish, French, German, Italian, Russian, Portuguese, Turkish, Dutch, Irish, Danish, Swedish, Ukrainian, Esperanto, Polish, Greek, Hungarian, Norwegian, Hebrew, Welsh, and English. They also recently added Romanian and Swahili to the ever-expanding list.
The concept is pretty simple. Users create a profile, select a language, and then complete lessons through short, fun modules. You can even set goals and receive daily reminders from their friendly owl in case you need a bit of motivation. It’s the perfect way to learn the basics of a language before your trip. And if you have more than rudimentary knowledge, there is an option to test out and go a bit more in depth. Check out their study companion TinyCards on iOS to really bolster your vocab.
HelloTalk allows you to connect with people all over the world.
Cost: Free. Offers in-app purchases.
Available for iOS and Android.
This app is taking social media to a whole new level. Learn to speak a new language while sharing your own skills with another. Users connect with people who speak the language for a more immersive and interactive experience in this global community. Choose from over a hundred languages like English, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, French, Mandarin Chinese, Cantonese, Portuguese, German, Italian, Russian, and Arabic.
HelloTalk offers many features including free audio and voice calls, grammar correction, and language translation. You can even learn more about the culture of your destination before traveling. This is basically a super productive chat.
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