Download a text translator to your computer. Free programs for Windows download for free

With the development of Internet technologies, electronic translation of not only individual words, but also phrases and even large volumes of text is becoming of higher quality and, as a result, more in demand. Of course, the results of automatic systems still leave much to be desired and cannot be compared with professional “human” translation, but for simple texts in everyday work, as well as for simply familiarizing yourself with the content of a foreign language document, its quality is quite sufficient. Indeed, it is much easier for any person, be it a professional translator or an ordinary journalist composing a letter in a foreign language, to turn to a machine translation system and then manually polish the resulting text than to pore over finding the right words and grammatical structures from scratch. In some cases (for example, if we are talking about the translation of technical documentation or official papers), the question may even arise as to who will do a better job - a well-tuned machine translation system or a person who knows the language, but is not very well versed in the topic.

Modern automated translation systems are gradually moving online, as this makes it possible to centrally store a large amount of linguistic data and run an engine on the server side that can find the optimal translation for different languages ​​and topics. CHIP has selected powerful web services and programs for you that will help you not only in work, but also in everyday life. Most of them also function on smartphones, provided they have Internet access. Professional commercial solutions are still able to work offline.

Google Translator: comfortable and fast

Price: for free

Website: translate.google.ru

This service can be called one of the most popular among Google projects. By default, it uses instant translation, designed to minimize the number of clicks and speed up the results. The language from which the text needs to be translated is determined automatically, and the translation direction is set to the one that is most in demand by users from a given region. For example, if you enter text in Russian, the service will immediately translate it into English, and vice versa - when you access the “Translator” from a Russian IP address, the English text will be automatically translated into Russian. In addition, there is a function for remembering actively used languages, and to select the direction of translation, you can not access the menu, but use the buttons located directly above the text input field. Conveniently, the service automatically checks spelling, and if an error is found in the text that needs to be translated, Google Translate automatically corrects it. The resulting translation result can be edited directly on the web page. In this case, the display of alternative versions of the translation of the word is automatically activated. If the user believes that the best option is not in the proposed list, you can enter this word or construction manually.

The service supports more than 60 languages. For most of them, including Russian, phonetic input works. This feature is very convenient if the required layout is not available on your computer. In addition to the service itself, the translation function is integrated into various Google products. For example, it can be used to quickly translate letters arriving in Gmail mailboxes. Another convenient feature is the quick translation of web pages. Simply paste the link into the source text area and a link to the translated web page will appear in the result field.

Online translator PROMT: assistant for pros

Price: for free

Website: translate.ru

The service from PROMT uses the same technologies that are used in the line of desktop applications of the ninth version. Users can translate texts of up to 3,000 characters, and after free registration - up to 10,000. Translate.ru works with six major European languages ​​- and, of course, Russian. The total number of words known to the service exceeds 9 million. What is noteworthy is that Translate.ru allows you to take into account the subject of the text when translating. There are currently 16 main topics available, including communication on social networks, travel, business, sports, cars, etc.

Like a similar service from Google, Translate.ru allows you to edit machine translation directly on a web page. However, translation options for words are not displayed. In order to view their full list, you need to highlight the word in the source text window and click on the “Dictionary” button on the toolbar. The service will show all possible versions of the word translation in a separate window, highlighting the one that was used.

In addition to translating texts, Translate.ru offers another useful function that will come in handy when preparing professional translations - providing grammatical information about words. By hovering the cursor over a translated word, you can get detailed information about its forms, declensions or conjugations. Conveniently, typos are automatically checked in the source text. Below the finished translation there are buttons for quickly sending it by mail or printing.

Another unique feature of Translate.ru is the generation of a permanent link to the translation: if necessary, you can save the address of the service page with the source and received text. The site also has buttons for quickly sending such a link to social networks - VKontakte, Facebook, Twitter and Google+.

Translate Client: everything is at hand

Price: 1100 rub. (Pro version)

Website: translateclient.com/ru

Online translators, when used frequently, may not seem so convenient due to the fact that you need to constantly copy the source text, switch to the browser window and then perform the reverse actions with the finished translation. The Translate Client utility is designed to make these operations easier by providing translation directly in the application window - for example, Microsoft Word or Foxit Reader. In appearance, the program resembles an electronic dictionary, but uses the Microsoft Translator engine for translation. After launch, the program window is located on top of other windows, which allows you to quickly copy and paste the desired text fragments. The client automatically detects the language and provides instant translation. Translate Client supports voice playback of translated text, as well as its editing. However, the main advantage of this application is its contextual functions. So, by clicking on the Translate Client icon in the system tray, you can switch it to instant translation mode: after selecting the desired piece of text, just click on the “G” button that appears next to it - and the translated fragment will immediately appear near the cursor. Using the buttons at the bottom of the pop-up, you can copy the text to the clipboard, replace the original text with it, and also change the translation direction. Translation using the Microsoft Translator engine is free, but the service of this program often denies access. The utility has the opportunity to upgrade to the Pro version, in which you can connect the Google Translate service - this will cost 1,100 rubles. In addition to Google support, it includes the ability to work with local dictionaries for several languages ​​and search for information on Wikipedia, and also has a Learner module designed for learning foreign words.

Dicter: convenient intermediary

This program operates completely free of charge. It gracefully relieves the user of many routine operations with text fragments and constant access to the browser. Unlike Translate Client, this utility uses the Google Translate engine by default, which means it has more than 60 languages ​​available for translation. The program interface is made in gray tones and is not replete with unnecessary functional buttons - only switching between languages, “Copy”, “Paste” and “Settings”. After launch, the application is located in the Windows tray and is available for use in any program that has a text selection function. To activate the utility, the default key combination “Ctrl+Alt” is assigned, when pressed, the selected text is automatically translated by the online service (of course, this requires Internet access) and the result is displayed in the program window. Editing the received translation in the Dicter window is impossible, but you can quickly copy it - partially or completely - to the clipboard. There is a function for voice text playback.

Dicter also has an extended mode for displaying the main window, which also includes an area for entering source text. You can either copy data from the buffer into it, or enter words from the keyboard. It is noteworthy that text reading also works for this field.

The application can be useful both in everyday work (for example, for quickly translating email messages or websites in a foreign language), and for professional translation of texts. There is no automatic switching to the desired language, but the required button is conveniently located, which allows you to work with the program quickly and comfortably.

Offline generalists and mobile systems

When professional translation is required, powerful specialized packages or universal mobile applications are most often used, which allow you to effectively work with texts on various topics.

PROMT Professional 9: set for pros

Price: from 720 rub.

Website: promt.ru

This is a large package of translation applications, therefore, to make it easier to work with, all modules are collected in a single center using a shell. The list of programs that have translation functions includes both the office suite and messaging applications, browsers and email. DOC, DOT, PDF, RTF, TXT, HTM and HTML formats are supported.

The utility analyzes the text using keywords and suggests the most suitable topics for translation. The package is integrated into the operating system, so file translation can be started from the Explorer context menu with the “Translate to PROMT” command. In addition, the program integrates with many popular applications - for example, a special toolbar is added to the menu of Microsoft Office 2000–2010 office suites, as well as OpenOffice.org Writer. Using the commands of this panel, the user can determine the topic and direction of the translation and set some linguistic settings - for example, add exception words. The translation is displayed in a separate window, and for programs in the Microsoft Office 2007 and 2010 packages - in the translation panel.

Using PROMT Professional, you can quickly translate pages in Mozilla Firefox and Internet Explorer. In addition, the application has built-in tools for translating messages in IM clients such as Skype, ICQ, Qip Infium and Windows Live Messenger. For example, translation of outgoing messages in Skype can be performed automatically and added to the source text, and translation of sent messages in ICQ can replace the original text.

"Google Translator", Russian Translator, "TransZilla Translator": mobile interpreters

Price: for free

Website: play.google.com

Modern smartphones are no longer much different from desktop computers. Powerful processors, graphics accelerators and a large amount of RAM allow them to perform a wide range of everyday tasks. Given their portability, it would be a big remiss not to provide them with the functions of a portable translator.

The best solution on the market is the free Google Translate app. It allows you to enter source text both from the keyboard and using voice typing. But the fastest way to translate a printed document is to take a photo with a camera. There is also a more extravagant method of entering text - drawing letters on the board, which can be useful, obviously, in conditions of strong shaking. The translation result can be copied to the clipboard and then pasted into a text editor or other mobile application, as well as immediately sent by email or published on a social service. More than 60 languages ​​are supported.

As an alternative tool, we recommend using the less functional, but quite convenient Russian Translator application, which also works based on Google services. Here the source text can be typed manually or dictated. In this version, two languages ​​are available for translation - Russian and English, but the developer also offers separate applications for Portuguese, Arabic and Vietnamese. Among the features of the program, it is worth noting the ability to translate and send messages by email and SMS.

The TransZilla translator application offers similar functions, but it has more than 60 languages ​​at its disposal, which is not surprising, since it uses the Google service.

For those who professionally translate from foreign languages, there is Abbyy Lingvo. Those who constantly encounter foreign language texts that need to be quickly processed and generally understood use Promt machine translation systems. And if you need to turn to a translator only from time to time to get an interpretation of an unfamiliar word in the text or to roughly understand what is being said on a Chinese website, then contextual translators are irreplaceable. These small programs are convenient because they are always at hand and are ready to provide translation upon request.

Contextual translators did not appear yesterday or the day before. But with the penetration of the Internet into the masses, they have completely changed. Previously, these were applications consisting of a software module and dictionaries. Some dictionaries were supplied with the program; additional ones often had to be downloaded separately. An overview of such applications - “Polyglot prompters or something about contextual translators" - can be found in the archive of our website for 2007. But if you try to follow the links provided in the article, you will see that almost all the programs over these five years have ceased to exist or have been abandoned.

When broadband Internet appeared in every home, it became much more convenient to use online translation services, and with them new contextual translators appeared. They no longer store dictionaries on your hard drive, and you don't need to download anything other than a software shell to run them. As soon as the user makes a request, the application searches for a translation on one of the popular web services and displays the result in its window. Of course, this approach requires a constant connection to the Internet, but who doesn’t have one now?

⇡ Client for Google Translate 6.0

• Developer: TranslateClient
• Operating system: Windows
• Distribution: free (paid version available)
• Russian interface: yes

For several years, this program has been for many the best solution for quickly translating words and texts. Instead of opening translate.google.com in your browser, you could use this extremely simple utility. It could be insert text for translation directly into its window or, alternatively, copy the characters and click on the Client for Google Translate icon in the tray. In the latter case, the translation was displayed in the cursor area, so there was no need to even switch between windows.

In mid-2011, Google changed the terms of provision of the API of its Google Translate service - developers who use the service engine in their products were asked to purchase a license costing $20 per million characters. After this innovation, the Microsoft Bing engine was added to the free version of the program, and translation using Google Translate began to be offered in the Pro version (along with the ability to connect dictionaries and some other functions). However, in November last year, this shop also closed. Changes to the Bing API policy provide for free use of the service only within 4 million characters per month. To expand the limit, you need to pay $10 per million characters.

From the moment the restriction was introduced by Microsoft, the development of the program slowed down. Client for Google Translate now only works during the first days of the month until users of the program reach the limit from Microsoft (a quota of 4 million characters is provided for everyone). After this, instead of translation, you can see the bleak message Microsoft Translator is over the quota. Try again later or switch to Google Translate. It’s clear that you can buy the Pro version, but compared to free alternative applications, the once very popular Client for Google Translate seems like a dead project.

⇡ QTranslate 4.1

• Developer: QuestSoft
• Operating system: Windows
• Distribution: free
• Russian interface: yes

It is completely unclear how the developers of QTranslate managed to do this, but this free program works with translation via Google, Bing, and several other popular services: Yandex, Promt, Babylon, SDL. If desired, any of the services and supported translation languages ​​can be disabled.

The program's interface is minimalist, but at the same time it has everything you need for quick translation: neat tabs with service names are located at the bottom, there are two fields for text, as well as a panel using which you can select the direction of translation, quickly change languages, clear fields. Clicking on the headphones in the text input fields turns on the text.

In order to quickly translate a word or a couple of sentences, you don’t even have to be distracted by switching to the program window. Simply copy the text to your clipboard and a QTranslate icon will appear next to your cursor. Clicking on it will display a pop-up window with the completed translation. Despite its tiny size, it also contains several useful commands. So, with one click you can try to translate a fragment using any other supported translation system, replace the source text with the resulting translation, listen to how it should be pronounced, and copy it to the clipboard.

QTranslate can also be used to search for unfamiliar terms in dictionaries. If you select not a quick translation in the pop-up window, but open a dictionary window, you can find out what Wikipedia, Definr, ImTranslator, Google search and other services know about the searched word.

To access web resources, you can configure the use of a proxy server, as well as set a timeout time.

By the way, if a quick translation is not needed, the program icon can be easily disabled in the settings. Conversely, it is possible to quickly display the translation immediately when selecting text. In general, whatever you like. In addition, the program can display translation tools in the cursor area when you press predefined key combinations (default is Ctrl+Q). In the settings, exceptions are specified - applications in which QTranslate will not work. You can also enable translation of interface elements: just move the cursor to the desired inscription, press CTRL+Q - and the translation will appear in a pop-up window.

The program remembers the translation history and allows you to save it as an HTML file. In addition to the basic functions, QTranslate also offers a virtual keyboard with support for about thirty languages.

⇡ Dicter 3.32

• Developer: Dicter
• Operating system: Windows
• Distribution: free
• Russian interface: yes

Dicter is one of the simplest programs for translating texts. There are practically no settings in it; you can only change the hot keys for calling up the translator window, the font size and autorun settings with Windows. Contextual translation is performed using a keyboard shortcut (by default, pressing the left CTRL and ALT keys simultaneously), or you can select the text and click on the Dicter icon in the system tray. By default, the program window appears in a simplified mode, when only the translation is shown, it is possible to change its direction, listen to the finished text, edit it and copy it to the clipboard. If you switch to the extended window mode, a field with the original will also appear.

To receive a translation, Dicter uses the Google Translate service, but there are no restrictions on translation in the program. Perhaps developers cover their costs for purchasing the right to use the API due to the fact that the installer with default settings installs an advertising module for services from Yandex (be careful when installing and do not forget to uncheck all the boxes!).

⇡ Google Translate Desktop 2.1

• Developer: AthTek Software
• Operating system: Windows
• Distribution: free (ads included)
• Russian interface: no

As you can guess from the name, Google Translate Desktop also uses the Google Translate engine to work. The program is free, but supported by advertising - be prepared for the constant flickering of the flash banner at the top of the window. However, if Flash Player from Adobe is not yet installed on your system, instead of a banner you will see just an empty window. The program does not require installation and is ready to work immediately after running the ggtranslate.exe file.

Google Translate Desktop does not support translation using hotkeys, but it monitors the contents of the clipboard. That is, as soon as you press CTRL+C or copy text to the clipboard in another way, it immediately appears in the translator window.

The original language is detected automatically, but you can also hardcode it in the settings. The translation language is also specified in the settings, and here the program lacks flexibility. If, for example, the user wants to make a translation not in the usual direction (for example, Russian → English), but in the opposite direction (English → Russian), it will not be possible to receive it automatically, since the program will try to translate from English to English and will get stuck at this point. The button for quickly changing the direction of translation will not always help - if the source language is detected automatically, the button is inactive. You have to manually select a language from a long list.

The program window also has buttons for speaking text (translated only), copying results to the clipboard, and clearing the window of text. The results can be saved as a text file. It is also worth paying attention to the input line at the top of the page. By entering the site address here, you can quickly get a translation of the web page (it opens in the browser).

⇡ Lingoes 2.8.1

• Developer: Lingoes Project
• Operating system: Windows
• Distribution: free
• Russian interface: yes

It’s not easy to break through the advertising blocks on the Lingoes website, which instead of a translator slip installers of completely different programs. But when you do succeed, you will be rewarded. Lingoes is one of the most functional free systems for quick translation, and in the program itself, unlike the website, there are no advertisements.

The program supports thirteen (!) translation services, including the ubiquitous Google Translate, Yahoo, SYSTRAN, Microsoft Translator and others. Translation can be performed either in the program window (to do this, just go to the “Text Translation” section) or in a pop-up window.

Depending on your preferences, you can choose to have a pop-up window appear when you copy text to the clipboard, when you highlight it, or when you hover over a word. At the same time, the program’s reaction is easily customizable: when translation of selected text is enabled, you can set exceptions, and when translation is active by hovering over a word, you can specify what additional actions need to be performed for the program to translate it (for example, right-clicking the mouse and pressing the Ctrl key). By default, this function is enabled to ignore numbers, but you can also ask the utility to ignore Latin, Cyrillic or other characters.

Hot keys are also fully supported - with their help you can not only open the translation window, but also, for example, read out the text. In the program settings, you can select the translation service that will be used by default, set the first and second target languages ​​(the second will be used if the source language matches the target language).

Lingoes has built-in not only translation using online services, but also an incredible number of different capabilities. Because of them, the program interface looks overloaded, but if you need a calculator, currency converter, periodic table, unit converter, international telephone codes, a list of irregular English verbs or information about the current time in different countries, know that Lingoes has it all .

⇡ Conclusion

For a translator, especially one that is positioned as a solution for quick translation, the most important things are speed, an uncluttered interface, and ease of call. In all three respects, it seems to us, QTranslate has no equal. Despite the fact that, for example, Lingoes has many more settings that describe the appearance of a translation window, there is no such convenient option as in QTranslate. An unobtrusive icon that appears when text is selected and automatically disappears if the user does not access it, this is much more convenient than a translation pop-up window constantly appearing on the screen. However, it all depends on how intensively you use the translator. Both Lingoes and Dicter also seemed to us to be very worthy programs.

Many modern specialties require at least superficial knowledge of foreign languages. And this is not to mention how important it is to have communication skills in a popular foreign language in your studies or when moving up the career ladder. It is for these purposes that specialized programs are developed for translating text onto a computer. With their help, it is difficult to achieve a perfect translation of even a simple text, but they are quite suitable for understanding its meaning.

Choosing the best program for text translation.

ABBYY Software Ltd., known as the manufacturer of FineReader software and a leading supplier of OCR technologies and language applications, has released a special version of the ABBYY Lingvo electronic dictionary, designed for the Russian market. ABBYY Lingvo is the best translation program. This is the first electronic dictionary that supports translation in four languages: English, German, Ukrainian and Polish. This is a collection of 11 modern electronic dictionaries, available to both users of personal computers and smartphones.

ABBYY Lingo contains dictionaries published by famous authors and publishers around the world, such as Collins and Oxford. The range of dictionaries is complemented by extensive explanations in English, German and Ukrainian. All sources were developed or updated in 2005-2008. ABBYY Lingvo guarantees high quality and accuracy of translations. The product is intended for people who have to work with foreign languages ​​at work or study, or are simply learning a new language. The dictionary contains about 3.7 million translations of more than a million terms. In terms of the number of words contained in a single product database, the developers have set a new record, and at the same time, the software is offered at a reasonable price, comparable to other electronic dictionaries.

In addition to translation options, ABBYY Lingvo offers access to phonetic notations, example comments, explanations of grammatical rules and word forms. The database contains 35 thousand words in different languages, registered by professional lecturers who are native speakers. The system is equipped with a modern, convenient and functional user interface, offering the ability to instantly translate words highlighted by the cursor by displaying a translation window. Explained dictionaries and full-text search capabilities across all dictionary resources provide quick and easy access to a wealth of linguistic knowledge useful for both language learners and professional translators. The program comes with a special application, Lingvo Tutor, which helps you learn a foreign language.

The mobile version of the ABBYY Lingvo application can be installed on devices with Symbian or Windows Mobile systems. The mobile version of the dictionary offers access to the same dictionary database as the desktop version, while retaining most of its features. Thanks to the mobile version, the dictionary is at hand almost always when needed: on a business trip or on vacation, during business negotiations or in the library, in a restaurant, store or museum.

Babylon is a state-of-the-art translator program that translates words and sentences in the world's most popular languages. It can also translate websites and pronounce words.

Advantages:

• many languages;
• website translation;

Flaws:

• Average quality of automatic translations.

The default Babylon interface is a dictionary module for the computer. Just enter a word, select multiple languages, and you can already use the translation and pronunciation of the word. Additional modules are available at the bottom of the interface. One of them is automatic text translation. The procedure is similar - after selecting languages, we receive an automatic translation of this text. You can insert a piece of text, and the program will automatically recognize what language it was written in.

Babylon also offers website translation, but this option is hidden. Click "Menu" and then "Translate Web Page." The same operation can be performed by right-clicking the program icon in the system tray, which is located in the lower right corner of the desktop. The website translation will appear in your default browser window.

The free version uses standard dictionaries. The translated text can be understood, but in most cases the translation is only good for understanding the meaning. The full version of the Babylon program also has the ability to automatically listen to translated text. In the free version, the user can only use English. Babylon is a pronunciation dictionary and module for translating sentences, texts and websites. Its translation into Russian is not perfect, so if we have constant access to the Internet, it is worth considering an alternative option in the form of Google Translator.

Free Language Translator is a universal translator that uses Google Translate technology. Thanks to this, we can translate text by choosing one of 50 languages! The program itself can determine the language in which the text is written and evaluate the accuracy of the translation.

Advantages:

• translation between 50 languages;
• automatic language detection;
• ability to create a custom dictionary.

Flaws:

• Internet connection required;
• sometimes freezes;
• Problems reading PDF in some languages.

Free Language Translator offers the opportunity to create a personal dictionary with corrected translation. This feature is quite useful because Google Translate's technology is far from perfect. It is effective when you need to understand the general meaning of the text. If you need an accurate translation, the application does not stand out as particularly effective. The software is very easy to use. You can enter the text to be translated manually, paste it from the clipboard, or load it from a file. Free Language Translator supports the most popular text file formats: PDF, DOC, RTF, HTML and TXT. Unfortunately, import does not always work correctly. In short, this is the ideal translator for extreme situations when you need a translator from exotic languages.

TranslateIt! is a very good translator for Mac OS X. It supports many languages ​​including English, German, French, Spanish and Russian. The application allows you to translate from Russian and English into any available language and vice versa. The big advantage is the excellent integration with the system. For example, each word can be translated by typing it, pasting it, dragging it into the program window area, or moving the cursor. TranslateIt! does not require an Internet connection during operation and works offline. In addition to the translation itself, the tool supports language learning. All dictionaries for the program are free and can be downloaded from the manufacturer's website. 20-day trial. Supports Mac OS X 10.6 and later.

Dicter is a useful program for directly translating texts from web browsers and any other programs running on Windows. The application is offered to users completely free of charge. This program has been designed in such a way that it provides simple and fast intuitive operation. The application is placed on the taskbar. To use it, simply select a given piece of text with the mouse and press the Ctrl+Alt key combination, after which its translation will appear next to the selected text.

Due to the fact that user needs are very diverse, you can change the font size so that the translation is easier to read. With a standard installation of the program, it runs when the system starts. If this doesn't work for you, simply right-click the program icon on the taskbar and uncheck "Run with Windows." The application does not introduce any unwanted changes when setting your own home page in the browser and does not display advertising, and registration is also not required. The program does an excellent job of ensuring accurate translations, due to the fact that it uses Google Translator - this is its unofficial client. The disadvantage here is that there is no copying of the translation and that an Internet connection is required to complete the translation.

The window size automatically adapts to the amount of text - this is an excellent feature, because when translating several lines of text, the program window does not take up much space. The application, despite its small size, is very efficient and does not load the system - transfers are carried out at high speed, while other programs running at the same time are slower.

Easy Translator (successor to Ace Translator) is a small, convenient program that allows you to translate text from one of 91 supported languages ​​(including, of course, Russian and English) to any other. TTS, which is text-to-speech translation, is also available in many languages. The program uses online translation systems and allows you to easily translate the content of websites, chats or emails. Ace Translator can also be very useful for people learning foreign languages.

Easy Translator is fully adapted to the needs of modern users and is very easy to use. Paste the text into the top window, select the original language (if the program does not detect it automatically) and the target language, click the “Translate” button and get the translated text. The translated text can be saved, printed and spoken with the TTS function, or saved as an mp3 audio file. The unregistered trial version allows you to use the program for 14 days. After this period, you must purchase a full license or remove the program from your computer.

What else are translator programs needed for? With their help, you can quickly get any information you are interested in, which is sometimes difficult to find even on the Internet in your native language. Unfortunately, all programs and systems are far from perfect, but in most cases the translation allows you to easily understand the source text in a foreign language. You can choose the most suitable translation program for you or your specialization in a simple, proven way - by trial and error.

Mobile translator is a convenient application: you always have your Android smartphone with you, and you have to translate foreign words from Russian into English (or vice versa) quite often. If you travel or write text in English (or another) language, a translator for Android is indispensable.

We have already looked at applications for online text translation, dictionaries and similar services. Mobile translators for Android OS also appear here, and we have selected the best of them:

Among the main functions we note offline work on the phone, photos and voice translation. It is also desirable that the mobile application has the ability to voice the translated text. At the end of the article, you can quickly choose the best translator for Android based on its functionality.

Mobile translator Google Translate for Android

Perhaps the most popular translator, whose name (Google Translate) has become a household name and is used when it comes to machine translation, let’s say, is not of very high quality. However, it must be admitted that today Google Translate is perhaps the optimal method for automatically translating web pages, individual words, text fragments and even audio messages via phone. From year to year, the quality of the Google Translate service is gradually increasing, and the Translate API is used by many other services and applications to translate text from English and other languages ​​into Russian or as a translator of web pages on their own and other sites.

Google Translator for Android has been working without the Internet for some time now.

Main features of Google Translate for Android:

• About 100 text translation directions are supported
• Recognize text from a picture or Android camera and the ability to translate it into 26 different languages
• Two-way translation of voice messages into 40 languages: text-to-speech and recognition of text spoken into the microphone
• Support handwriting text input when drawing on the screen of an android device
• Selectively download language extensions to Android as needed
• Add words to your favorites and save translations for later offline use

However, keep in mind that all translation features are not available in all languages. Although English and Russian languages ​​are fully supported on the phone.

Let’s talk about the features that we liked right away.

1. Offline translation supported. If you're offline and trying to translate a word that's not in the dictionary, Google Translate will offer to download language packs. They weigh a little - the Russian-language one is about 20 MB.
2. Alternative text input includes handwritten input, voice input, and text recognition from a picture.
3. Great interface. Recently, Google has been paying more attention to usability, which is why convenience is improving.

A few words about how the Google Translate application works. Select the translation direction, enter a word or phrase using any of the input methods and see the translation. You can listen to the pronunciation, transcription, copy the word or add it to your favorites list. Well, of course, there is a dictionary where you can find out the translation options for a word and part of speech.

Summary. The Google Translate translator for Android is not exactly mega-functional, but it confidently combines the most necessary tools for users in need. It is both a dictionary and a machine translation application. The Google translator is convenient for quickly recognizing words in all languages ​​that are included in the kit.

Yandex.Translate - offline translator for Android

Yandex.Translator is essentially the same as Google Translate, but for those who are used to using products from a “domestic manufacturer”. In fact, there are not many differences with the same free “Translate”. Recently, the Yandex.Translate service has increased its translator functionality, and now the Android application translates text from a picture and recognizes speech and audio messages. Perhaps the main difference compared to the Android version of Google Translate is the quality of translation (it’s just different) and the number of supported languages ​​for mobile translation - there are not 90, but more than 60, which is enough for most users. There is also a mobile web version of the application at https://translate.yandex.com/m/translate.

Interface and settings of the Yandex Translator application

Some differences in the mobile application are purely “taste”. The signature yellow color predominates in the translator's design. Abbreviations and word completion also work in Yandex.Translate. One of the convenient functions of the text translation program is the automatic change of language when typing. Google Translate (version for Android) surprisingly does not have this, although the web version of the translator has been doing this for a very long time.

The Yandex translator works offline. But here's the problem: electronic dictionaries take up a lot of space in the phone's memory. The English-Russian offline translation package alone takes up about 660 (!) MB! You need to think 100 times whether you need such happiness.

Other mobile translation settings available in the offline translator from Yandex:

• simultaneous translation,
• language definition,
• hints and simplified input,
• translation of words and text from the clipboard,
• activation of offline mode.

Summary. In general, the Yandex product is a suitable translator. With its own features and amenities, with a full set of translation functions. It works autonomously and can be used as a convenient electronic dictionary. The only drawback of the application is the impressive size of the dictionaries (they need to be downloaded in advance without fear of traffic consumption).

Mobile text translator Translate.ru

The PROMT company is known for its long-standing developments in the field of machine translation. The Translate Ru translator is one of the interesting products available for Android. As Promtovians say, Translate provides fast and high-quality translation of texts in popular directions, including English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, etc. Naturally, the Russian language can also serve as a translation direction.

High-quality mobile translation at Translate.ru (PROMT)

Some main features of the Translate.ru mobile application:

• Integrated translation: the ability to translate from any open application in the Android OS. You can easily copy the text and find out its translation in Translate.ru
• Mobile translation, electronic dictionary and phrasebook in one set
• Selecting a translation topic: studies, biography, social networks, computers, travel and others.

After testing other popular text translators for Android, some points catch my eye. Firstly, the interface is not as modern as in Google Translate or Yandex.Translator. It's also less convenient when translating text on a phone with a small screen. To translate, you not only need to enter a word, but also press the enter button, since the text is not translated on the fly. On the other hand, the translator can independently change the subject of translation and the language direction.

A few words about the offline mode of operation of the dictionary. Offline work is available in the paid version of the Translate.ru translator, but some tools (phrase book) can be used for free - just download the corresponding dictionary of expressions. The last 50 words translated online are also available in the story without an internet connection.

Since the price of the program is low - about $3 - we advise you to think about purchasing it if you liked the free version of the application for its capabilities in translating from English into Russian or in other areas. In the paid version, in addition to the availability of offline mode, there are no advertisements at the bottom of the window.

Summary. This text translator for Android OS is not perfect, but nevertheless one of the best representatives of its category. Translate.ru offers a high-quality translation with the ability to consolidate and learn new words. Various translation topics, pronunciation and transcription of text and a phrase book are available. Well, in addition, all this can work offline. So Translate.ru has every chance to gain a foothold in your list of Android applications.

Good to know. What is the difference between a translator program and an electronic dictionary?

Electronic dictionaries are usually convenient for translating individual words. They are used as references and provide more translation options for a term. One of the most popular dictionaries is Lingvo. The product is available for desktop and mobile platforms, including Android.

Babylon: electronic dictionary and translator in one bottle

At one time, Babilon was a fairly popular translator for the desktop platform. The developers decided to take revenge by porting their translator to Android and other mobile platforms.

Mobile translation using Babylon online translator

What can be said from the user's point of view? The Babylon app is relatively inconvenient for online text translation. Why don't developers just learn from other translate apps and make the GUI shell more user-friendly? Now Babylon is divided into 2 tabs: text translation and electronic dictionary. The logic is clear, but inconvenient. In addition, to translate text you need to press extra buttons. And considering that the translation of each word is downloaded from the Internet, using this Android translator is not much fun.

Again, comparing Babylon with the other translators mentioned, it does not have such necessary tools as translating text from a picture, speech recognition and translation, it does not even have a simple phrasebook.

Of course, it is possible to upgrade the basic version of Babylon, which is installed on Android by default, but this does not really save the situation, apparently. A total of 4 versions of the application are available:

• Basic I - no ads
• Basic II - no ads and with offline dictionaries
• Deluxe - all of the above plus an unlimited number of text translations
• Ultimate - everything that can be included in the translator, the possibility of subsequent updates

Well, okay, then what are the advantages of the mobile version of Babylon? Despite the outdated shell, it is worth noting the good quality of translation of terms; electronic dictionaries did not disappoint in this regard. The program produces an entire dictionary entry when translating from English into Russian and vice versa. Transcription and pronunciation of a word can be found by clicking on the corresponding icon.

Thus, the Babylon electronic translator is unlikely to satisfy the needs of an active user who often accesses the dictionary. Unfortunately, Babylon has many inconveniences and a small set of functions for translation in various language areas. The only positive point is high-quality electronic dictionaries and detailed dictionary entries that the program produces when translating individual terms. If you need offline translation, we recommend turning to free applications such as Google Translate.

iTranslate - text translation software and voice translator

iTranslate is another prominent representative of mobile translators. It is distributed mainly through the App Store in the form of an iOS version of the application. In addition, the iTranslate translator is also popular among Android mobile users.

iTranslate supports text translation format and voice input. Translation is carried out in 92 language areas. The program saves the history of the last translated phrases and works offline without any restrictions (you must first download a dictionary for the desired direction - for example, English-Russian).

In addition to the usual translation, iTranslate translator can reproduce everything written on the phone. The application is absolutely free for Android users, but it broadcasts unobtrusive banners with advertising in the bottom panel of the screen.

Other features of iTranslate translator:

• More than 90 directions for text translation
• Voiceover of translated text. You can choose the voice acting at your discretion (male/female)
• Ability to select different regions for the selected translation language
• Built-in dictionary, synonym database and extended articles for each word
• Transliteration and access to previously entered phrases and words are supported
• Sending translations to other users and posting on social networks

Another representative of mobile translators for Android, which is also distributed through the App Store in the form of an iOS version of the application. For this reason, “iTranslate translator” is quite popular among Android mobile users. This program allows you to work both in text translation format and using a voice translator in 92 languages, and also saves the history of the last translated phrases.

Translator iTranslate for Android

In addition to the usual translation, iTranslate translator can reproduce everything written on the phone. This application is absolutely free for Android users, so it has unobtrusive banners with advertising in the bottom panel of the screen. To work with the iTranslate translator, you will need an Internet connection. You can also download an add-on from the same developer, a full-featured voice translator for Android – iTranslate Voice.

Microsoft Translator - a convenient translator for text and photos

The Microsoft Translator application can translate text in more than fifty different language directions. In addition, the application performs voice translation, recognizes phrases photographed on the phone, as well as screenshots taken on the phone. The translator works both online and offline; in the second case, you need to download dictionary databases for the translation to work without an Internet connection. The "Offline languages" section in the Android translator settings is intended for this.

When translating text, a transcription is displayed (for the Russian-English direction); voiceover of the text is also available by clicking on the corresponding icon. However, it was inconvenient that Microsoft Translator does not offer alternative translations of individual words, as is done in Google Translator. Also, the application does not display hints when entering words.

The function of translating inscriptions and images is quite convenient. As mentioned, all you have to do is take a photo with your camera and Microsoft Translator will recognize the text content. However, if there is really a lot of text to be translated, inconvenience may arise because you have to read the translation without formatting.

Another convenient feature is a phrasebook. It contains popular language phrases that you can use when traveling.

Offline dictionaries: a translator for Android that works without the Internet

The Offline dictionaries application allows you to use dictionaries on your phone without connecting to the network. This is convenient, for example, if you are on a plane, traveling abroad, working where there is no Internet, or just want to save battery.

Download the dictionaries you'll need for translation to your SD card the first time you launch the app. Then search using patterns.

Definitions can also be read by a smartphone using a text-to-speech module (some mobile devices do not support this module - accordingly, some languages ​​may not be available. The dictionary is convenient to use in conjunction with e-book reading devices.

There are over 50 multilingual offline dictionaries to choose from, including English, French, German, Spanish, Arabic, Japanese, Korean, Hindi, Hebrew, Russian, Italian, Chinese, Portuguese, Dutch, Czech. In addition to dictionaries, the kit includes databases of synonyms and anagrams.

Dictionaries are added and regularly updated with the release of new versions of Offline dictionaries.

Other functions of the telephone translator:

• self-replenishment of dictionaries
• adding personal notes
• Synchronize notes with all devices via Google account

The free version of Offline dictionaries displays ads, but you can try the pro version, which is ad-free.

Results: which Russian-English translator to choose?

Choosing the best mobile translator

If you want to work closely with a small list of the most popular foreign languages, you should pay attention to the Android translator Translate ru or the Yandex translator.

If Internet access is limited, download “Offline Dictionaries” and you will be able to translate foreign words in any convenient place directly on your mobile device.

Translation memory (translation memory, translation memory) - programs that allow you to “not translate the same thing twice.” These are databases that contain previously translated text units. If a new text contains a unit that is already in the database, the system automatically adds it to the translation. Such programs significantly save the translator’s time, especially if he works with similar texts.

Trados. At the time of writing, Translation memory is one of the most popular programs. Allows you to work with MS Word documents, PowerPoint presentations, HTML documents and other file formats. Trados has a module for maintaining glossaries. Website: http://www.translationzone.com/trados.html

Déjà Vu. Also one of the leaders in popularity. Allows you to work with documents in almost all popular formats. There are separate versions of the program for freelance translators and for translation agencies. Website: http://www.atril.com/

OmegaT. Supports a large number of popular formats, but documents in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint need to be converted to other formats. A nice feature: the program is free. Website: http://www.omegat.org/

MetaTexis. Allows you to work with documents of the main popular formats. There are two versions of the program available - a module for MS Word and a server program. Website: http://www.metatexis.com/

MemoQ. The functionality is similar to Trados and Déjà Vu, the cost of the program (at the time of writing) is lower than that of more popular systems. Website: http://kilgray.com/

Star Transit. Designed for translation and localization. Currently only compatible with Windows OS. Website: http://www.star-group.net/DEU/group-transit-nxt/transit.html

WordFisher. Free Translation Memory system created and maintained by a professional translator. Website: http://www.wordfisher.com/

Across. There are 4 different versions of the program available, differing in the scope of functionality. Website: http://www.across.net/us/translation-memory.aspx

Catnip. A free program, the “successor” of the MT2007 program. Website: http://mt2007-cat.ru/catnip/

Electronic dictionaries

Here we presented only electronic dictionaries for offline operation (without Internet access). There are much more online dictionaries; a separate article will be devoted to them. Although the Internet has penetrated to the most remote corners of the planet, it is useful to have at least 1 dictionary for working offline. We reviewed dictionaries for professional use; phrase books and dictionaries for language learners were not included here.

ABBYY Lingvo. Currently allows you to translate from 15 languages. There are several versions of the program with different sizes of dictionaries. There is a version for mobile devices. The paid version of the dictionary is installed on a computer and can work without an Internet connection; the free version is only available online. The program is compatible with Windows, Symbian, Mac OS X, iOS, Android. Website: http://www.lingvo.ru/

Multitran. Not everyone knows that there is an offline version of this popular dictionary. Can be installed on computers (desktop and pocket-sized), smartphones. Works with Windows, Symbian and Android, as well as Linux (via browser). Currently allows you to translate from/to 13 languages. Website: http://www.multitran.ru/c/m.exe

Promt. This program has versions for professional use. The advantage of Promt is that it allows you to work together with Trados. Website: http://www.promt.ru/

Slovoed. Can translate from/to 14 languages. Installs on desktop computers and laptops, mobile devices and Amazon Kindle readers. Works with operating systems iOS, Android, Windows, Symbian, BlackBerry, bada, Tizen. The dictionary has several versions, including highly specialized thematic dictionaries. Website: http://www.slovoed.ru/

Text recognition programs

ABBYY FineReader. Recognizes text in photographs, scans, and PDF documents. The latest (at the time of writing) version recognizes text in 190 languages, and does a spell check for 48 of them. You can save the resulting text in almost all popular formats (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF, html, etc.) Website: http://www.abbyy.ru/finereader/

CuneiForm(OpenOCR). The program was created as a commercial product, but is currently distributed freely. Compatible with Linux, Mac OS X, Windows operating systems. Website: http://openocr.org/

Programs for calculating statistics

Translator's Abacus is a free program for counting the number of words in documents of various types. Website: http://www.globalrendering.com/

AnyCount– a paid program with a large number of settings. For example, you can count the number of characters with or without spaces, the number of words, lines, pages, or set the counting unit yourself. Website:

AfterScan– a program for automatic checking and correction of source text. Detects and corrects typos, errors, missing spaces, text recognition errors. Website: