# Electronic Translators: Are they like Google Translate?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electronic-translators-are-they-like-google-translate/758469>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 26, 2016, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electronic-translators-are-they-like-google-translate/758469 "2016-06-26T23:08:09Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![No\_Wikipedia\_Cites](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@No\_Wikipedia\_Cites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/No_Wikipedia_Cites)\
**Post date:** [June 26, 2016, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electronic-translators-are-they-like-google-translate/758469/1 "2016-06-26T23:08:09Z")

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I don’t have a smartphone and wondered if, on my next vacation, I should buy an electronic translator to have deeper conversations with the natives. I have used Google translate, combined with some basic proficiency, on the internet to do so; but do the electronic translators they sell on amazon have the same ability? Or is it just a dictionary with a few set phrases?

In particular I was looking at ones in the $20-40 range by companies like “Lexibook” and “Franklin”. The more expensive ones seem to only have more languages.

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**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\
**Post date:** [June 26, 2016, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electronic-translators-are-they-like-google-translate/758469/2 "2016-06-26T23:23:32Z")

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I don’t think any electronic translator can compete with Google since Google Translate is constantly updated and refined. The more it is used, the better it gets. There is a link included with each translation that allows fluent speakers to suggest a better translation. So it receives constant input.  
The portable translators I’ve seen in the past only have single word and common phrase translation ability. But, admittedly, I haven’t played with one in over a decade, so they might be a lot better now.

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**Author:** ![albino\_manatee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/albino_manatee/32/2_2.png) [@albino\_manatee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/albino_manatee)\
**Post date:** [June 26, 2016, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electronic-translators-are-they-like-google-translate/758469/3 "2016-06-26T23:48:22Z")

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i can also vouch for **google-translate** … was amazed, recently, at the proficiency from a year ago. in some cases, one can type a whole sentence. and, be cautious with your _ad-lib_ tendencies … omission of one character can/does give exact opposite intent.

> **[Google Translate](https://translate.google.com/)**
>
> Google's service, offered free of charge, instantly translates words, phrases, and web pages between English and over 100 other languages.