English to Spanish Voice & Camera Translator
Spanish is the official language of 20 countries, and most English speakers meet it on holiday in Spain or Latin America, or in daily life in the US. Below: the phrases people need most, what trips English speakers up, and how to translate a conversation or a menu on iPhone.
How to translate English to Spanish on iPhone
- In a conversation. Open Dialog, pick English and Spanish, and take turns speaking. Each of you reads the translation on your half of the screen and hears it aloud where your iPhone has a voice for the language.
- By camera. Point Camera at a Spanish menu, sign or form, or add a PDF, and read it in English.
- Offline. With a subscription, download the languages before you travel and translate typed text without mobile data.
- In the right tone. Set AI Text Style to Casual, Business or Formal before you speak.
What to know about Spanish
- Usted or tú
- Use usted with strangers, officials and older people, and tú with friends and people your age. When unsure, start with usted; nobody is offended by politeness.
- Words change with gender
- Adjectives about yourself change with your gender: a man says estoy cansado, a woman estoy cansada. The same goes for alérgico and alérgica.
- Spain and Latin America differ
- Everyday words vary: a car is coche in Spain and carro in much of Latin America, a phone is móvil or celular, juice is zumo or jugo. Standard Spanish is understood everywhere.
- Questions open with ¿
- Written Spanish marks questions and exclamations at both ends: ¿Dónde está? and ¡Gracias! Signs and menus follow this rule, which helps camera translation spot questions.
Common English to Spanish phrases
| English | Spanish | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Hello, do you speak English? | Hola, ¿habla inglés? | A polite way to start |
| How much does it cost? | ¿Cuánto cuesta? | Shops and markets |
| The bill, please. | La cuenta, por favor. | Restaurants and bars |
| Where is the bathroom? | ¿Dónde está el baño? | Anywhere; in Spain you'll also hear servicio or aseo |
| I don't understand. Can you speak more slowly? | No entiendo. ¿Puede hablar más despacio? | When the reply is too fast |
| I'm allergic to nuts. | Soy alérgico a los frutos secos. | Restaurants; women say alérgica |
| I need a doctor. | Necesito un médico. | Emergencies, pharmacies |
| Does this bus go to the city center? | ¿Este autobús va al centro? | Public transport |
| Can I pay by card? | ¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta? | Shops, taxis, markets |
| I have a reservation under the name… | Tengo una reserva a nombre de… | Hotels and restaurants |
Frequently asked questions
Does the translation work for Latin American Spanish?
Yes. The app translates into standard Spanish that is understood in every Spanish-speaking country. Some everyday words differ by region; see the notes above.
Can I translate Spanish menus and signs into English?
Yes. Point Camera at the text and the app detects that it is Spanish and translates it into English. Read how to translate a menu with your iPhone camera.
Can I translate English to Spanish without internet?
Yes, for typed text. Download English and Spanish before your trip. Voice and camera translation need a connection.
Related language pairs
English to French
English to German
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