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1. Copy, paste into a translator
The familiar way: long-press the message, copy it, paste it into a translation app or website and read the result. For the reply you do the same thing backwards — write it in the translator, copy the output, go back to WhatsApp and paste it.
It works on any phone and in any language, with nothing to install. The downside is the back and forth: every message means leaving the chat and coming back. Fine for a few messages; tiring with someone you write to every day. It's also easy to copy the wrong text or forget to paste the translation.
2. WhatsApp's own translation
WhatsApp has started offering a translate option for received messages in some languages: long-press the message and look in the menu. Which languages are supported depends on your phone and WhatsApp version; if you don't see it, update the app first.
This helps you read what you received. It doesn't write your reply in the other person's language — for that you still need another way.
3. A translator keyboard
A translator keyboard takes the place of your phone's keyboard and translates what you type right where you type it. You write in your own language, tap translate, and the text box now holds the message in their language. You never leave the chat.
Because the keyboard isn't tied to WhatsApp, it works the same in Telegram, iMessage, Instagram messages and email. Some Android keyboards have a translate button of their own. Flow Translate is a translator keyboard that works on both iPhone and Android.
Step by step with a translator keyboard
Once the keyboard is set up (we cover setup in a separate post), translating in WhatsApp goes like this:
- In the app's settings, choose your own language — the source language.
- Open the chat in WhatsApp and switch to the translator keyboard (the 🌐 key on iPhone).
- Pick the target language on the keyboard, for example Spanish or German.
- Type the message in your language and tap Translate.
- The translation goes into the text box. On iPhone, if the field's key is "Send", the message is sent after translating. To read it first, hide the Translate button in settings: the text then translates by itself when you stop typing and is not sent.
Translating received messages in one tap (Android)
On Android, Flow Translate can put a small translate icon on the messages you receive in WhatsApp. Tap it and the message is translated into the language you chose — no copying, no long-press. The source language is detected automatically.
The feature uses Android's Accessibility service and stays off until you turn it on. When on, it reads only the WhatsApp messages visible on screen; it doesn't store them or send them anywhere. Translating received messages is always free.
Getting better translations
Whichever way you use, machine translation works best with short, plain sentences. A few small habits make a big difference:
- One topic per message.
- Skip idioms, slang and abbreviations — "I'm beat" may come out as something very odd.
- Write dates and times in full: "3 February, 15:00".
- For anything important, translate the result back into your language and check the meaning held.