Translate text and voice for conversations across languages using iPhone

With the Translate app, you can translate text and voice to have conversations across supported languages. You can also download languages to translate entirely on a device, even without an internet connection.

Note: Translation is available for supported languages. See the iOS and iPadOS Feature Availability website.

👁 The Translate tab, showing a translated phrase from English to Chinese. The Favorites button is at the top left. The More button is at the top right. Along the bottom, from left to right, are the Translate, Camera, and Conversation buttons.

Translate text or your voice

Go to the Translate app 👁 Image
on your iPhone.
Tap the language you want to translate your selected text to.
To swap languages, tap 👁 the Language Swap button
.
Tap one of the following:
- Translate text: Tap “Enter text,” type a phrase (or paste text), then tap 👁 the Next button
  on the keyboard or 👁 the Done button
  in the top-right corner.
- Translate your voice: Tap 👁 the Listen button
  , then say a phrase.
Note: Words are translated as you type or speak.
When the translation is shown, do any of the following:
- Play the audio translation: Tap 👁 the Play button
  .
- Adjust the playback speed: Touch and hold 👁 the Play button
  , then choose a speed.
- Show the translation to someone else: Tap 👁 the Enter Full Screen button
  .
- Save the translation as a favorite: Tap 👁 the Favorites button
  .
- Copy the translation: Tap 👁 the Copy button
  .
- Delete the translation: Swipe left, then tap 👁 the Delete button
  .

View your favorite translations

👁 The Favorites tab, showing saved phrases translated from English to Chinese and French to Japanese.

Go to the Translate app 👁 Image
on your iPhone.
Tap 👁 the Favorites button
, then scroll to view translations you marked as favorites.

Note: Your favorite translations are kept up to date in the Translate app on your devices where you’re signed in to the same Apple Account.

Translate a conversation

iPhone shows the translated text bubbles from both sides of the conversation. Conversations work for downloaded languages when you don’t have an internet connection or when On-Device Mode is turned on.

👁 The Conversation tab, showing chat bubbles and their translations.

Go to the Translate app 👁 Image
on your iPhone.
Tap Conversation.
Do one of the following:
- Type text: Tap “Enter text,” type a phrase (or paste text), then tap 👁 the Done button
  .
- Use your voice: Tap 👁 the Listen button
  , then say a phrase.
Note: Words are translated as you type or speak.
Tap 👁 the Play button
to hear the audio translation.
To hear audio translations automatically, tap 👁 the More Options button
, then tap Play Translations.

Tip: You can translate a conversation without tapping the microphone button before each person speaks. Tap 👁 the More Options button
, tap Auto Translate, then tap 👁 the Listen button
to start the conversation. iPhone automatically detects when you start speaking and when you stop.

When chatting face to face, tap View in the top left, then tap Face to Face so that each person can see the conversation from their own side.

Review words with multiple meanings

When translating a word that has several meanings, you can choose the one you want. You can also select feminine or masculine translations for words that have grammatical gender variations.

Note: When gender hasn’t been specified, translations automatically default to the gender-neutral form of a word.

👁 The Translation tab, showing a translated phrase from English to Spanish, and a word highlighted in gray with different gender variations listed below.

Go to the Translate app 👁 Image
on your iPhone.
Translate a word or phrase, then tap Next on the keyboard.
When available, do any of the following:
- Choose a different meaning: When available, tap the light-colored word to select the intended meaning.
- Choose grammatical gender translations: When available, tap the light-colored word to select a feminine or masculine translation.

To turn off grammatical gender translations, tap 👁 the More Options button
, then tap Show Grammatical Gender.

Listen to translations through your AirPods

If you have an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone* paired to AirPods, you can also use Live Translation with AirPods. Live Translation allows you to have a conversation with someone who doesn’t speak the same language. You can hear a conversation translated into your preferred language, and have your voice translated into their language. See Hear translations for nearby conversations using AirPods.

URL: https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/translate-text-voice-and-conversations-iphd74cb450f/ios