Do you like watching Instagram Stories, but you don't always understand what people who post in a foreign language are saying? Would you like to discover new, interesting content from other countries and cultures, but are limited by the language barrier?
There is a quick and easy solution to this problem: Google Translate Instagram. This is a new feature that allows you to automatically translate story texts into your native language, using Google Translate technology.
Here's how to activate the Google translate tool on Instagram!
What is Google Translate Instagram?
Google Translate Instagram is an option that appears at the top left of stories that contain text in a language different from yours. By clicking on it, you can see the translation of the text into your native language. This feature uses Google Translate technology, which is able to instantly translate words, phrases and web pages between more than 100 languages.
Google Translate Instagram was launched in July 2021 , with the aim of promoting exchanges between users of different nationalities. This way, you can better understand the stories of your favorite influencers , even if they don't speak the same language as you. You can also discover interesting new content from other countries and cultures.
Why use Google Translate Instagram?
Google Translate Instagram can be useful for several reasons:
- To understand the content of a post, comment or Instagram story in a foreign language.
- To communicate with Instagram users who do not speak the same language as us.
- To discover interesting, original or inspiring content in other languages.
- To learn or improve a foreign language by reading or listening to authentic content.
How to activate Google Translate Instagram?
There are several ways depending on what you want to translate: story, message, comment. Here's how to do it!
How to translate an Instagram story?
Instagram Stories are ephemeral content that disappears after 24 hours. They can contain text, images, videos, stickers, surveys or questions. To translate an Instagram story:
- Open the Instagram app on your smartphone or tablet.
- Story tab and select a story with text in a foreign language.
- At the top left, you will see “ View translation ”. Click on it.
- The text will be translated into your native language and displayed at the bottom of the screen.
How to translate messages on Instagram?
Use Instagram's built-in translator:
- This method requires you to have a professional or business account on Instagram.
- Go to the desired chat thread and press the (i) button in the upper right corner to access the chat settings.
- Under “More actions,” turn on the toggle button next to “Translate messages” to automatically translate messages into your language.
- You can also ask the other participant in the message to enable this feature to help them understand the same.
How to translate an Instagram post?
When you view an Instagram post in a language you don't understand, you can easily translate it using Google Translate. There are two methods for this:
- The first method is to copy the text from the post and paste it into the Google Translate app [Google Translate] website . You can then choose the source language and the target language, and get the translation instantly.
- The second method is to use Instagram's built-in feature, which automatically translates posts into the language of your choice. To do this, simply click on the three dots at the top right of the publication, then on “ See the translation ”. You will then see the translation appear under the original text. You can change the translation language in your Instagram account settings.
How to translate an Instagram comment?
If you want to translate an Instagram comment, you can use the same method as for posts: copy and paste the text into Google Translate , or click “ See translation ” below the comment. You can also reply to a comment in another language using Google Translate. To do this, simply type your answer in the app or on the website [ Google Translate] , then copy and paste the translation into the comment field on Instagram.
How to choose the translation language on Instagram?
The translation language on Instagram can be changed in your account settings. Here's how to do it:
- Open the Instagram application and click on their profile at the bottom right of the screen.
- Click on the three horizontal lines at the top right of the screen, then on “ Settings ”.
- Click on “ Account ”, then “ Language ”.
- Select the language of your choice from the drop-down list.
The language chosen will be the one used to automatically translate posts and comments on Instagram. It is possible to change the language at any time by following the same steps.
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What are the benefits of Google Translate Instagram?
Google Translate Instagram has several benefits for Instagram users:
- It allows you to understand the meaning of the stories you are watching, without needing to use another translation tool.
- It saves you time and effort, since you don't have to copy and paste the text or manually enter the source and target language.
- It gives you access to a greater diversity of content, by allowing you to follow accounts that post in languages other than yours.
- It helps you learn new languages, exposing you to authentic vocabulary and expressions.
What are the limitations of Google Translate Instagram?
Google Translate Instagram is not perfect and has some limitations that you should be aware of:
- It only applies to the written text of stories, not audio or video. There is no feature yet that can automatically translate voice or captions in stories.
- It does not take into account the context, tone or nuances of the original text . It is therefore possible that the translation is imprecise, incomplete or erroneous in certain cases.
- It does not always respect the formatting, color or size of the original text. The translation may therefore be difficult to read or may obscure part of the image.
What are the alternatives to the Google Translate tool integrated into Instagram?
- Use the Google keyboard to copy and paste text from direct messages . If you use Google keyboard to type on your phone, it can help you translate any unidentified direct message on Instagram. Just copy the text to your phone's clipboard, then press the translate button on Google keyboard and choose your desired language.
- Use the Google Translate app to translate the entire screen . The Google Translate app lets you translate anything on your screen without having to copy each message individually. So you can highlight unidentified text in the Instagram direct message to produce an instant translation of the selected text.
- Use Google Lens to translate a screenshot . Another nifty way to translate direct messages on Instagram is to use the Google Lens app. Simply take a screenshot of the Instagram conversation containing an unidentified language, then open the Google Lens app and select the translate icon.
Google Translate isn't the only online translation service that can be used with Instagram. There are other alternatives that may offer different or complementary results. Here are some examples :
- Deepl : Deepl is an online translation service that uses artificial intelligence to produce fluent and natural translations. It is renowned for its quality and precision. It offers 26 languages and allows you to translate text, websites or documents. It also has a dictionary that gives usage examples and synonyms for each word.
- Reverso : Reverso is an online translation service that offers 15 languages and includes a spelling and grammar checker. It allows you to translate text, websites or audio files. It also has a collaborative dictionary which gives definitions, expressions and examples for each word.
- Linguee : Linguee is an online translation service that combines a search engine and a bilingual dictionary. It offers 25 languages and allows you to translate text or websites. It offers the possibility of consulting translation examples taken from reliable sources, such as official documents, media or specialized sites.
Conclusion
Google Translate Instagram is an innovative feature that enriches the user experience on the social network. It allows you to automatically translate story texts into your native language, with just one click.
It thus offers several advantages, such as understanding, saving time, diversity and learning.
However, it has some limitations, such as the absence of audio or video translation, imprecision or inconsistency.
We hope that this article was useful to you and that you will take full advantage of Google Translate Instagram ! If you ever use Instagram on Mac , you can also take advantage of this feature. We hope that this article was useful to you and that you will take full advantage of Google Translate Instagram!
