Text Translation: translate typed, pasted or dictated text
Type, paste or dictate text and the translation appears on its own. 126 languages, including 15 Caucasian ones, auto-detect and voiced playback.
Updated November 2, 20263 min read
Text Translation is the quick way to translate a message, a sign you retyped or a paragraph from a document. Open it from the Tools tab or from the Translate quick action (long press on the app icon). On iOS and Android you can also share text from another app into VocaLingo and pick Text Translation.
How to translate text
Type or paste the text in the top field. The paste button sits under the field. To speak instead, tap the microphone while the field is empty and dictate.
Leave the source language on Auto-detect or pick it yourself. Pick the target language in the lower block. The arrows swap the two languages.
Wait a moment. The translation starts by itself 0.8 seconds after you stop typing, or right after you paste. You can also tap Translate; while it runs, the same button stops it.
Use the buttons under the translation: Listen, Copy or Share. In the app, after you have listened to a translation, Share offers the text or the audio.
If you share text into VocaLingo while a draft is open, the app asks "Replace current text?" before it overwrites the draft.
Which languages are supported
Text Translation works with 126 languages: 111 common ones plus 15 Caucasian languages (Avar, Chechen, Ossetian, Lezgian, Kumyk, Kabardian, Adyghe, Karachay-Balkar, Ingush, Nogai, Dargwa, Abkhaz, Lak, Mingrelian, Tabasaran). Caucasian languages are translated only by Gemini 3.8 Flash: if you pick one while another model is selected, the app switches the model and shows "Caucasian languages are only supported by Gemini". The Listen button appears only for languages that can be voiced. More in Supported languages.
Settings
The settings button is at the top right of the Text Translation screen.
Setting | Options |
|---|---|
Translation model | Gemini 3.8 Flash (default, best for rare and Caucasian languages), Gemini Flash Lite (fastest, good for translating as you type), GPT 6 Luna (OpenAI) |
Voice | Male or Female, used by Listen |
Photo translation model | Nano Banana 2.1, GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst or GPT Image 2.5 Flare, used by Translate photo |
Translating text on a photo
The camera button under the text field, Translate photo, redraws a picture with the text in your target language: a menu, a sign, a screenshot. It works differently and costs differently, so it has its own article: How to translate text on a photo or screenshot.
How much it costs
Translating text costs a fraction of a token: a typical paragraph is well under one token. Fractions add up and are deducted once they reach a whole token. Listening costs 10 tokens per 1,000 characters of the voiced text. Dictation is charged for the recognized speech, also in fractions. Prices for all tools are in Token pricing for each tool.
History and next steps
Translations are saved to History (the clock button at the top right), grouped into sessions with the number of translations in each. Without Premium the last 3 entries are kept; see History.
Under a finished translation the What next? block offers Speak translation, which opens Text to Speech with more voices, and Discuss in chat. Details are in What next?.
Frequently asked questions
Should I use Text Translation or Tourist Translator for a conversation?
For a spoken conversation use Tourist Translator: it listens, translates and speaks the answer for both sides. Text Translation is for text you already have.
Can I translate a whole document?
Text Translation has no file upload. Paste the text into the field, or attach the file in AI Chat and ask for a translation there.
Contact support
Describe the problem and we will reply by email. Add the file name or job ID if you have one.