Your iPhone is a translator
Did you know that your iPhone (and iPad) has a built-in Translate app that is able to translate pictures, images, and speech among a list of common languages? It's very easy and fast, and can even be done when you don't have internet access. I don't speak any of the other languages in my sample screenshots below, so I couldn't say if my examples are completely accurate.
Apple Translate's biggest limitation is that it only supports 20 languages. Though they are some of the most common. If you need access to other languages you should check out Google Translate, which works in much the same way but supports 133 languages! With Google Translate you'll find less common languages such as Hawaiian, Icelandic, and Esperanto among the list. The big drawback is that Google Translate is not integrated into your phone so composing emails in a different language or looking up content on your screen requires a bit of copy and paste.
Setup: Download languages for offline use
If you are intending to use translation when traveling, I suggest downloading some languages for offline use. This way if you have spotty or limited service you can still use the features. To do that head to the Settings app > Translate > Downloaded Languages. In addition to the languages you want to translate to or from, you also need to download your native language.
Using the Translate app
Translate text in real time
Reading a menu or trying to decipher a sign? Load up the Translate app and switch to the Camera button on the bottom. Adjust the language settings on the bottom if needed and simply point your camera at the text you want translated. Tap the circle shutter button to freeze a still image that you can pinch in and out of.
Translate a verbal phrase
Within the Translate app tap the "Translation" button on the bottom. Make sure the two languages shown are the languages you want to translate between. If not, tap them to change them. Tap the microphone next to the language you want to speak, say a phrase, and the app will show you the translation. Tap the triangle "Play" button and your iPhone will speak the translation for you.
Hold a two-way conversation
This is one of the really cool parts of the Translate app. Two people can speak and your iPhone will listen, translating the conversation automatically as you talk. Within the Translate app tap the "Conversation" button on the bottom. Check that the two languages shown are the languages of the people communicating. Tap the three dots in the upper right corner of the screen and make sure "Play Translations" is selected. Tap the microphone at the bottom to begin. Any time your iPhone hears a phrase in one language, it will speak it back in the other language. You can also tap the "View" button on top to switch it to "Face to Face" mode, showing your language on one side and the other language upside down on the other side so that two people can read the phone's screen simultaneously.
Translating outside of the app
The translation engine is also available in other parts of your iPhone such as in Photos and in Safari.
Translate a photo in your Photos app
Did you take a photo of a plaque or a sign that you want to read in English? Tap the text button in the corner and then choose Translate.
Translate a web page
Visiting a web page that's not in English? Tap the aA button in the address bar and then choose "Translate".
Translate any other text
Did you receive a text or email in another language? Any place where you are able to select text you can select it then from the popup menu choose "Translate". You may need to tap an arrow button in the menu to see all of your menu items.
Send texts or emails in another language.
You can go the other direction too. In any app where you are writing something, write it out in English. Then select it and choose "translate" from the popup menu. You may have to tap the right arrow to browse through the entire menu. Then tap the "Replace with Translation" button if desired.
Ask Siri
This one is very easy if you simply need a phrase translated from English. Ask Siri something like "Siri, how do you say Where is train platform 1? in Japanese" and you'll get a written and spoken response.
Faster access
While you are traveling, it might take too long to hunt for your translation app when you need it right at that moment. I can think of several times I've been on a train in Paris while an announcement is being made in French as I've stumbled to load my Translate app quickly. Luckily there are a few ways you can now load it instantly. Though some involve Shortcuts and customized Home Screens which would require an entirely different article so you'll need to learn about those features.
iPhone 15 Pro Action button: In Settings > Action Button you can either configure it to load Translate in coversation mode, or if you have experience with the Shortcuts app you can set the Action Button to load Google Translate in either photo mode or conversation mode.
Lock Screen Widgets: You can create a home screen with a widget that take you directly to the Google Translate function that you want. Or have multiple widgets to have different translate modes quickly available. Strangely, Apple Translate does not provide any widgets, but you can create one yourself using the Shortcuts app.
Translating on Mac
Though Mac lacks a dedicated Translate app, many of the above features exist there. Within Safari you can go to the View menu to find translation functions. And while reading or composing text you can highlight and right click to get things translated.
cover art generated by Midjourney AI