Offline App for Translating Italian

I've been happy with Google Translate. I've used it in numerous countries. Has great features. You can speak into it, type or even use your phone's camera to translate signs. The most important thing to remember is to keep your sentences short without using slang or idiomatic expressions. Keep it simple like a first grade primer. It's not perfect but works well enough to understand or be understood - most of the time!

Thank you for your reply. Can you use Google Translate off line?

Thank you and I also have searched (google of course) and found that google translate is offline-able for iPhone as well. I'm so used to coming to RS Board - I forgot to search Google about their own product!

Susan,

I've found that Google Translate is about the best of the translation app's (at least so far). They do have offline versions for several languages (including Italian), but I believe those have to be downloaded separately. In my experience over several years, the translation is not always perfect and in some cases, it's completely wrong.

I had a good opportunity to test that in Italy last fall when I had to unexpectedly "extend" my holiday and I found myself in a "total immersion" language situation. One of the people I saw every day was a teacher, and she provided a good assessment of the machine translations. In some cases they were close, and in other cases they were not correct at all.

I've always maintained that the best translator in the world is the one sitting on top of my shoulders, and I found that my limited Italian was about as useful as the machine translation. You might also consider trying a Pimsleur course or something at your local college to supplement Google Translate.

Thanks, Ken...great advice. Between the words I know and some "charades" I can usually communicate. Just wanted a fallback in case of emergency.

I'm reminded of this Mark Twain quote from "Innocents Abroad":
“In Paris they just simply opened their eyes and stared when we spoke to them in French! We never did succeed in making those idiots understand their own language.”

I agree with you, it's good to have a backup plan, although we never had a problem communicating when we were in Tuscany. There was one small market where we asked (in Italian) if they spoke English. They shook their head no, but then retrieved a teenager who worked in the store who spoke fluent English.

We had a great time at La Cantina in Greve, with Alessandro, the owner, teaching us basic Italian phrases. Also Marco, who served us breakfast every morning at Castillo di Verrazzano, taught us Italian and practiced his English with us. We became fast friends and there were hugs all around when we left.

I agree DougMac - I find everyone so willing to help you speak Italian. We enjoyed a delicious picnic lunch because 3 employees and the 2 of us worked as a team to understand each other. We didn't end up with a thing we ordered, but everything we ate was wonderful! Perhaps they understood us perfectly but knew better what would be good? :) I'm just hoping that by being prepared for emergency circumstances I won't need a translator. Kind of like carrying an umbrella so it won't rain.

We southerners have an extra hurdle - I don't talk like Diane Sawyer or Meryl Streep. LOL. We had a lively and fun conversation with our B&B host in Scotland about "your" accent - each of us convinced that the other's was harder to understand! Great memories of good people.

We southerners have an extra hurdle - I don't talk like Diane Sawyer or Meryl Streep. LOL. We had a lively and fun conversation with our B&B host in Scotland about "your" accent - each of us convinced that the other's was harder to understand!

I think I had a harder time in Scotland than in Italy!

You may appreciate this (Scottish voice activated elevator): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjO1BXzZLpE

My wife's family is from Meridian! I remember when she took me there for Thanksgiving when we were 17. Her mom was one of 9. 52 people sat down for dinner that day! That was the grandparents, their children and spouses and their children. I was the odd man out.

Thank you for asking this question and making this post. We are visiting Italy this July for the first time and will be there for 18 days. We having been learning Italian using Rosetta Stone and were hoping to find a fall back other than thumbing through a phrase book. This app was so fast to use and the being able to use it to translate signs looks like it could prove to be very useful . Thanks again for asking this question!

Thank you for asking this question and making this post. We are visiting Italy this July for the first time and will be there for 18 days. We having been learning Italian using Rosetta Stone and were hoping to find a fall back other than thumbing through a phrase book. This app was so fast to use and the being able to use it to translate signs looks like it could prove to be very useful . Thanks again for asking this question!

I have Google Translate on my phone, but I had NO IDEA there was an offline version of the languages I need. Thank you so much for posting this question! I have now updated my app so that I'm good to go on my next trip to Italy. :-)

The translators with camera ability are also great for reading the little info plaques that are frequently only in the local language.