Google. Photo: Shutterstock When was the last time you traveled to a new country whose language was a complete mystery to you until the day of your arrival? This is an all-too-common experience that millions of travelers worldwide face each year, and Google promises to provide the answer: an upgrade to Google Translate with Gemini.
The popular translation software now promises to significantly improve the way it tackles everyday language, especially phrases that are hard to translate word-for-word in a social context, when asking for specific things to eat (local foods), trying to use local expressions to bond with others, or using specific idioms or slang terms for a deeper sense of belonging, especially for long-term travelers.
Instead of giving you something technically correct but awkward, like most translation apps, Google promises to assess the actual context and deliver a version that sounds like it would come out of a human's mouth.
The update will roll out in the US and India, covering English and nearly 20 other languages, including Spanish, Hindi, Chinese, Japanese, and German. It is available in the Translate app and on the web.
Google is also testing something more ambitious. A new beta feature lets you hear live translations directly through your headphones. The concept is pretty straightforward: as you travel, you listen to someone speaking another language and hear a real-time translation that keeps their tone and rhythm, instead of flattening everything into a robotic voice. The new feature should come in extremely handy for travelers who love to explore new cultures by engaging in conversations with locals, attending lectures, and even watching shows or films in another language.
The beta is now available on Android in the US, Mexico, and India, and it works with all types of headphones, supporting more than 70 languages. Google says it plans to bring the feature to iOS and more countries in 2026, and is actively asking users for feedback while it fine-tunes the experience.
On the learning side, Translate is also adding better practice tools. Users will now get clearer feedback during speaking exercises, along with a way to track daily learning streaks so progress feels more tangible. Language practice is expanding to nearly 20 more countries, with new combinations like English to German and Portuguese, and several European and Asian languages to English.