WhatsApp can now translate messages in another language for you. On iOS, the feature supports more than nineteen languages.
WhatsApp is rolling out a new feature that allows users to translate chat messages. The translation happens on the device itself and is available for both Android and iOS users. The feature is being gradually rolled out on the operating systems.
Translating Messages
Users who receive a message in a different language can press and hold that message and use the ‘Translate’ option to convert it to another language. That language can be downloaded in advance, making the feature available offline as well. The translation function works in personal conversations, group chats, and channels.
On Android, users can also enable automatic translation for an entire conversation. New incoming messages in that conversation will then be automatically translated into the chosen language.
The translations are performed locally on the user’s device. WhatsApp emphasizes that the company itself does not have access to the content of the translated messages. According to WhatsApp, this ensures the privacy of users remains protected: something the messaging app needs to strongly emphasize as part of Meta.
Language Skills
The rollout of the translation feature is happening in phases. Android users can translate messages from and to six languages: English, Spanish, Hindi, Portuguese, Russian, and Arabic. WhatsApp’s language skills appear to be much more extensive on iOS, where more than 19 languages are available at launch. More languages will be added later.