Translator App for iphone

Try jibbigo. It costs 4.99 but I used it in Spain in December and it is awesome. You can speak into it or type. I didn't use the voice recognition part much since others noises seem to interfere.

No offense, but if you want your Spanish to remain "really lame", by all means, load up that iPhone and keep your nose in it. I can't think of a more effective way of preventing you from learning the language as you are surrounded by Spanish and Spanish speakers 24 hours a day. On the other hand, if you want to return from your trip with improved language skills...turn the phone off, look, listen and speak. You might be surprised at how quickly you pick it up. It ain't gonna happen by using your phone. ¡Vaya con dios!

David, WOW! At least Terry is trying to talk with the locals.
Your attitude is a bit out of line....

Terry kathryn, I've also downloaded Jibbigo on my iPhone (English/German) and will be evaluating it on my trip later this year. It seems to be an extremely well designed product, and I've found that it works well. The spoken English is usually "understood" without any mistakes, but I have no way to tell if the translation is accurate. I like the fact that it's designed to operate "off line" (no internet connection needed). As with any automated translator, it's not perfect, and it seems to have a problem with some words. For example, using the phrase "Is this the train to Bozen" is translated to "Is this the train to Boston". Having the ability to type phrases in to make corrections provides a good "backup". I'm waiting to get an "expert" opinion from some German-speaking friends here, and hopefully I'll be seeing them this week. For the "critics" out there, I will be trying to use the local language to the best of my abilities. Although I can manage reasonably well in Italian, I always struggle with German and French, so the translator may be useful in those situations where I'm not able to communicate at all. I've always felt that the best Translator is the one sitting on top of my shoulders, and that's still true. However, it would be virtually impossible to learn the languages of each country I visit in Europe. It's possible that the translator may also prove to be a good learning aid. They've indicated that an English/Italian version is "in the works", but no time frame. If the special price of $4.99 is offered for a bit longer, I may get the English/French version as well. The files are a bit large (239 MB), but I have lots of room. Cheers!

David... I have traveled to Guatemala and Mexico a number of times so I do know the best way is to immerse (I have also taken a few classes in Guatemala) But, since I am the one dealing with the money as well as the logistics for 4 people on this trip I wanted to be sure of critical issues and do not want to carry a dictionary. Hence, the request for the app. (shouldn't the 'd' be capital?) Erika... thank you. I have downloaded it and it seems like what I need.

Indeed Dios should be written with a capital D. I would love to have something to help me in Denmark and The Netherlands, but not because I don't want to interact or that most people speak English, but because I need to read labels in the grocery store due to several food intolerances/allergies. We are fine in France and Spain, but that's my limit with foreign languages.

Ken... I have already had a few good laughs in trying out the program... I don't think I have an accent, but the translator must. However, I will probably just type in the things I want to be sure I understand and have the correct translation. Just for the record.... if you knew me at all you would know I would not spend a trip with my nose in an iphone, but rather with my eye behind the viewfinder.

Terry kathryn, "if you knew me at all you would know I would not spend a trip with my nose in an iphone, but rather with my eye behind the viewfinder" I'm with you on that! That's also a big focus of my trips (excuse the pun).

Ken... I am a professional photographer so that is my main 'focus' also. Looking forward to playing with my new/old converted digital Infrared in Guatemala. Going to Tikal also so I am hoping for some wonderful scenes to photograph, as well as the colorful Market in Chichicastenango (which I intend to do in infrared this time)

David, I think even if you use an app there is some knowledge to be gained from the translation. Terry Kathryn, are you going to Antigua? If so, I have lived there and will be happy to help you with any questions you may have. It will be a lovely experience
and the weather is nice this time of year.

Terry kathryn, "I am a professional photographer so that is my main 'focus' also" The fact that you're a professional photographer is the reason I included the "pun". I've had a look at your work in the past using links that you've provided. Very nice! I haven't tried Infrared yet, but one the local professional photographers here has produced some fantastic images with it.

@Sarah, One benefit of Jibbigo is that it operates completely "off line", so data connection speeds aren't an issue. I tried the App briefly yesterday with some native German speakers. Using the phrase "I would like to buy some coffee", the translator came back with "Ich Hätte gerne tönende kaffee". I was told it was close but not completely accurate. The word "tönende" seemed to be a problem? With the same phrase, Google Translate comes back with "Ich möchte einen Kaffee kaufen". I have no idea whether that's any closer to the English version? Oh well, back to the drawing board! I'll have to check the local College for night school German courses. Automated translation has advanced considerably, but it still has many limitations in terms of inflection or intended meaning of some words. Cheers!

Eh, immersion only goes so far if you have a starting grounding in vocab anyway, really. If you haven't practiced/studied anything before you go somewhere, you'll just be 'immersed"in not understanding a thing! Long-term it may be possible to learn via immersion alone but the couple of weeks or less most people spend on vacation isn't going to help. Being immersed in Spanish really helped me because I'd already taken 2 years in high school. Being immersed in German didn't help me because I didn't know any German at all. As I've been studying it on my own and now in a class the immersive aspect is starting to really help me but I already have learned some vocab on my own to build on. GoogleTranslate is decent enough and free, although I don't know if it's offered for iPhones or not. I use my smartphone constantly but I often find data connections with translation on a phone to be slow enough that it's generally not all that convenient when trying to communicate to people face to face, though. I'm still faster with a phrase book..

In Antigua Guatemala right now and have used the app for a few things with much success. Thanks. @Ken... also used the Infrared Camera... its really fun as I used to do a lot of infrared film, but stopped when I no longer wanted to carry a film camera. New way of looking at things again, so lots of creativity going on here. Not my first trip to Guatemala, so I have many of the scenes in color already, so I feel okay doing most everything in infrared. I'll put together a slide show after I return and share the link. @Paula... this is my 4th time here, and I love it, but if you have anything you think might be a 'must see' be sure to post. I only have three more days here, then on to Tikal, but you might have the 'off the beaten path' destination I need to see.

Ken, that google translate phrase is 100% correct, although a little more...formal than neccessary? but all the words are correct and in the correct order. Their result would literally translate as
"I'd like a coffee to buy" But in most scenarios asking for something at a store/restaurant, "Ich moechte einen kaffee" (or "ein/en whatever") will be perfectly understood. I have run into problems with Google Translate but it's still primarily how I communicate with people who don't speak English over email and it hasn't caused any problems.

@Sarah, The Jibbigo translation was "Ich Hätte gerne tönende kaffee". How close is that???