WhatsApp is adding a helpful new tool that lets you translate messages right inside your chats, according to a report from HindustanTimes. This feature is currently being tested by early users (called beta users). The new tool will let you read messages in different languages without leaving your conversation or needing another app.
How WhatsApp’s New Translation Feature Works
The translation feature is simple to use. First, you turn on “Translate Messages” in your chat settings. Then you pick which language you want to translate to. When someone sends you a message in another language, you can tap a three-dot menu to see the translation. Both the original message and the translated version will show up side by side.
What makes this feature special is that it works without internet (called offline translation – it’s like having a mini translator in your pocket that doesn’t need internet to work). This happens because WhatsApp lets you download language packs to your phone. These language packs are like small dictionaries that your phone saves to translate words even when you’re not connected to the internet.
- Step 1: Turn on “Translate Messages” in chat settings
- Step 2: Choose your preferred language
- Step 3: Download the language pack to your phone
- Step 4: Tap the three-dot menu on a message to see its translation
- Step 5: View both original and translated text together
Languages You Can Translate To and From
Right now, the feature supports five languages. WhatsApp didn’t pick these languages randomly – they chose the most widely spoken languages across different parts of the world where many WhatsApp users live.
| Language | Region Most Common |
|---|---|
| Spanish | Latin America, Spain |
| Arabic | Middle East |
| Hindi | India |
| Russian | Russia and nearby countries |
| Portuguese (Brazil) | Brazil |
WhatsApp is expected to add more languages in future updates. The company chose these first five because they are widely spoken in Latin America, the Middle East, India, Russia, and Brazil – all places with many WhatsApp users.
Your Messages Stay Private and Secure
Many people worry about privacy when using translation tools. WhatsApp has made sure this feature is safe to use. All translation happens on your device (this means your phone does all the translation work itself instead of sending words to internet servers). This keeps your messages protected by end-to-end encryption (which means only you and the person you’re chatting with can read your messages – not even WhatsApp can see them).
This new feature follows another recent addition that lets you turn voice messages into text. Both tools show how WhatsApp is trying to make communication easier between people who speak different languages.
Who Will Find This Most Helpful
The translation feature will be especially useful for certain groups of people:
If you’re traveling to another country, you can chat with locals even if you don’t speak their language. Since the feature works without internet, it’s perfect for places with poor connection or when you’re not using mobile data while traveling.
People living in communities where multiple languages are spoken will find it easier to communicate. For example, in India, where many different languages are spoken across states, this feature could help bridge language barriers.
The feature also lets you turn off translations if you don’t need them anymore, or remove downloaded language packs to free up space on your phone.
WhatsApp started working on this feature in mid-2024, and it looks like it will be available to everyone soon. While the offline translations might not be perfect (because the language packs are made smaller to save space on your phone), they should still be good enough for basic conversations.
This new translation tool shows how WhatsApp is working to break down language barriers and make it easier for people around the world to talk to each other, no matter what languages they speak or whether they have internet access.
