Google Translate is useful at work, school, and especially for travel. I have used Google Translate while traveling to other countries where English isn't the native language, and it has helped me do everything from reading signs and menus to asking a passerby or someone in a store for something. Google says that Translate, which celebrates 20 years in 2026, supports more than 95 percent of the world's population with close to 250 languages. It's used by more than one billion people monthly, who translate close to a trillion words every month.
Google Translate has basic text translation from one language to another, and it can even be used for purposes beyond translations, like explaining the meaning of regional phrases and slang, and even improving accents. But the app also has some hidden tricks you might not realize are there. I know once I found and used a few of these, they were gamechangers for travel.
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Overlaid translations
Reading signs and menus is a breeze
Introduced way back in 2022, Google Translate has an overlay feature that allows you to scan something, like a road sign, poster, or menu, with your phone's camera to see an overlay of the text in the desired language. Using the live Google Lens camera combined with AI translation, the text instantly changes to show you the words in the desired language so you can scan your phone across the page or simply hold it up to a sign to read it. It's a way your phone can translate languages you probably aren't using.
This is probably the feature I use most often while traveling: reading bus shelter ads, food labels in a grocery store, and, mostly, restaurant menus when we travel outside of tourist destinations where there's no English printed on them as well. This is especially useful for those with allergies who need to be aware of ingredients. Or, if you're driving and unsure what a road sign means, the passenger can quickly use this feature to check, so you don't break the law.
Conversation Mode
Real-time auto-translation
You probably use Translate to type something into the app or audibly speak a sentence, then see and hear the translated phrase to show to the other person or have them listen. But the experience can be much more conversational than that. There's a basic microphone mode where the app listens and translates. But there's also Conversation Mode.
In this mode, the app will listen for both languages you have selected and translate as you go. This makes it much simpler to have a seamless conversation with someone speaking in another language, whether it's a colleague from the overseas office who speaks English but feels more comfortable speaking in their native tongue, or that cute young woman you see at the coffee shop. Make it even easier with Face-to-Face Mode, which splits the phone screen in half so two people sitting across from one another can see their translated text. Just tap the Face-to-face icon (two chat bubbles), position the phone between you, and talk. When using a foldable phone like the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold, you can turn on Dual Screen mode so that translated phrases appear on the outer screen.
Handwriting
Draw foreign characters
With some languages, simply typing a word or phrase isn't possible unless you download an entirely new keyboard layout. This may be the case for languages like Russian, Chinese, or Arabic. In these cases, did you know you can draw characters, letters, and phrases right onto the screen for translation?
After selecting the source and target languages, select the main text box, select Handwrite (it looks like a pencil marking), and draw in the Write here area. It's a bit challenging to use, especially with complex lettering. But in my tests, the app did a good job of finding the closest match to help you translate a word or a simple phrase. If you plan to use this feature often, I would recommend investing in a stylus for more precise drawing.
Offline Translation
Download to access without connection
If you're traveling to a foreign destination and trying to save data, you might turn off your cellular data and rely solely on Wi-Fi. While I'd recommend using a travel eSIM, which are incredibly affordable for access to data (some provide a unique phone number as well if desired), if you prefer to remain offline, you can still use Translate with the proper preparation.
Download the language pack you need to use while away and then access it anywhere, any time. It will take up a bit of room on your device, anywhere from 30MB to 150MB depending on the language. So you may want to delete it once you get back home. But doing this is useful if you're out and about in an unfamiliar country with no cellular connection nor Wi-Fi, or on a rural trail where you're cellular isn't working. Google says that along with English, the most downloaded languages around the world are Arabic, Spanish, French, Japanese, German, Hindi, Chinese, Russian, and Italian.
Circle to Search
Instant translations
You are probably familiar with the recently improved Circle to Search function, which comes standard with every Google Pixel phone and is available on other Android devices, too, like Samsung Galaxy phones. With this feature, you can circle virtually any image on screen from any source and instantly get more information about it, like where to buy the sweater that influencer is wearing in her video or what camera that guy is using in the ad. But you can also use this feature to translate.
Whether it's a skincare product or a social post from your favorite athlete, you can figure out what the label says so there are no surprises. With the latest update, you get more context as well. Long-press the home button or navigation bar to initiate Circle to Search as usual, select the Translate icon, and select Scroll and translate. This allows you to scroll through something like a foreign influencer's Instagram posts and see all the text translated without having to re-initiate Circle to Search every time.
Save favorite phrases
Quick one-click access
No matter where you travel, there are universal phrases you'll need to know everywhere. "Do you speak English?" "Where is the bathroom?" "Thank you." "You're welcome." "Sorry." "Do you take reservations?" "What time is it?" "How do I get to…?" The list goes on. You can save the translations of these frequently used phrases and even singular words for quick one-tap access.
Translate the phrase once and tap the star button at the top, right of the page to save it. Any time you want to access this word or phrase again, select the saved icon to see a list. It's a good idea to add phrases you know you'll need ahead of travel so they're ready to go upon arrival. It's your own little pocket library of phrases.
Your favorite travel companion
Speak any language
Google Translate is more useful than you think, helping you easily figure out how to read and speak phrases in a different language, communicate more seamlessly, and feel more confident while you travel. From Japan to Spain and Italy, I have used this feature to more confidently get around in a different country where the primary language is not one that I speak. Whether it's to ask a passer-by on the street for directions or read a menu in a little café in a small local village, you don't have to worry. Some features like Circle to Search only work on certain Android phones (most of the newest models from all brands), most of these features work even with the Google Translate app on iPhone.
Google Translate can do more than just basic translations from one language to another via text or audio. You can engage in seamless back and forth conversations, handwrite foreign language characters, use Google Lens to hold the phone up to a menu or poster to read it, and more.