Translation Tools
Whether you’re traveling or are in a situation where you need to know the correct translation something, these are some of my go-tos for the most accurate translation. I’m also telling you when I use these because these tools are build for translation depending on certain circumstances so I wouldn’t rely on one more than the other.
Word reference
This is not only a website, but also an app for your convenience. This site will not only give you the basic translation of a word, but show every possible context on how that word is used. This makes it almost impossible to misinterpret what someone is saying or has written. You can even translate words from other languages, and access all the correct forms of conjugation to any verb. This is a free resource you can use at your own convenience online or through a mobile device.
google Translate
I know…everyone knows about Google Translate. The reason why I love this is simply because there are new features than ever before to quickly understand someone. If you select the camera feature, you can hover your camera over anything and it will translate immediately what’s been written (convenient for reading product labels in a foreign country). There’s also features to transcribe words and phrases, especially if you don’t know how to spell something. I only recommend this for quick translations when you are absolutely unsure of a word in particular. I would never use this to translate full sentences.
Spanish D!ct
This translation tool is simliar to Word Reference, but specifically for Spanish. When you open the app there’s a “Word of the Day” section at the bottom of the screen so you’re able to learn something new every time you open the app. There’s also a feature that allows you to see examples of how words are used and another section for common phrases with the specific word in use.
Reverso context
I actually found this source out from Shea Jordan on YouTube who makes videos about her experiences learning Italian. I looked up the site and this is like the ultimate dictionary! It’s almost a step up from Word Reference. Not only can you translate words, you can find synonyms, conjugate verbs, spell check your writing, look up different contexts, find expressions, and more. You can also make an account to save any searches you want to keep as well as access more translation content.
DeepL Translation
I’m not sure where I found this source, but it’s a translation tool to help with context, gives alternatives to how you can say something, you can compare formal and informal ways of saying something, and it’s a downloadable app for Windows users. If you’re a translator as a profession, you can also you this as a tool to help you successfully translate documents, especially under the DeepL Pro subscription.