When it comes to translating a foreign language like Korean to English, many default to the Google Translate app. However, the online world is brimming with numerous translation apps, and with the advancements in AI, there are evolving options that offer improved accuracy, especially for specific languages like Korean.
Whether you’re visiting South Korea or need to understand Korean language documents for business purposes, there are several translation apps available. These apps cater to various needs, from basic translation to more specialized features, ensuring a smoother communication experience in diverse contexts.
Koreatechdesk.com has shortlisted the best apps to use for anyone wanting to translate Korean to English.
Created by Naver Corporation, the internet giant of South Korea, this app is an easy-to-use translator to get real-time output. It specializes in translation between English, Korean, Simplified Chinese, and Japanese. The app’s name Papago means Parrot in Esperanto, and like a parrot, the app has abilities to handle multiple languages that include Spanish, French, Vietnamese, Thai, Indonesian, Russian, German, and Italian.
The user can select the language of choice, and the input method can be through typing, microphone, conversation, or text recognition with a camera. The app allows users to save words as ‘favorites’ to create a database. It is a handy tool, especially for beginners and travelers. The app also caters to kids with its colorful section available in Korean and English.
Two of its features promise to be great aids for beginners and travelers – a phrasebook and website translator. The Kids section offered is especially helpful if you want to teach your child Korean studies. However, knowing a little Hangul is a must while using this app. Papago works on iOS, Android, and Google Chrome. In April 2019, Papago’s user base became more than 10 million.
Flitto is known for its human-powered translation service. The online platform matches individuals or businesses with the right translator for their translation needs. The user must post a request on the Flitto platform via a text message, a voice message, or even an image, and it will be checked by the millions of translators registered on the Flitto platform. Flitto works on a point-based system, where users can buy translation points and use those for translation purposes. The translator whose work is chosen by the customer is awarded Flitto points.
Flitto only takes a small percentage of commission for the process. To make sure of the accuracy and finesse of the translations, Flitto has a dedicated team based in their Seoul office to monitor the integrity of translations occurring all over the world. Flitto also works with companies like Naver, Systran, and Airbnb in Flitto has also formed a joint partnership with VideoMonster, an online video automatic production solution company to enhance K-Content services.
Flitto was started in 2012 by three Korean co-workers Simon Lee, Dan Kang, & Jin Kim. The company has now since expanded its translation platform to include professional and AI translation. Flitto also provides domestic and international companies with language data based on the data collected through the Flitto platform. As of 2020, the platform has over 10.3 million users in 173 countries. In July 2019, Flitto’s IPO was listed in Kosdaq that raised $ 23 million.
Genie Talk is a two-way instant translation service for Korean into English, Chinese and Japanese, and vice versa. Office suite developer Hancom Interfree has created it. The app was initially launched in 2012 and had become popular for its ‘on the spot’ translation. However, in 2018 the company launched a new version that overcame technical difficulties like slow internet and connectivity issues related to the app’s performance.
The new Genie Talk has all its required programs for translation installed on the smartphone when the user downloads it. It is useful for any traveler who wants to find directions, do hotel check-ins or such useful tasks in a foreign country. The app supports over nine languages. It can easily do text translations, speech translations, and even image translations. Genie Talk has won many accolades and was the official translation partner for the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics.
This app requires some knowledge of Korean but is immersive, and many advanced learners use it to learn the language better. With Daum, you can bypass English altogether if you want, and look something up only in Korean. The Search feature allows you to look up words and see their translation with romanization. There is an option of looking up a Korean-to-English translation or only in Korean. This is a great option for cross-checking translations as the Korean translation is very accurate. The app works on iOS, Android, and web browser. It doesn’t have a microphone but does have a camera option to look things up.
if you want to get more best translation apps for Korean to English then check out more:
Additional Apps to check out,
Waygo: If you’re specifically interested in translating Korean text from images, such as menus or signs, Waygo is a popular choice. It’s designed to provide instant translations for printed text.
iTranslate: iTranslate is a user-friendly translation app that supports a wide range of languages, including Korean and English. It provides translations for text, voice, and images.
Microsoft Translator: Microsoft Translator is another option for translating between Korean and English. It offers text, voice, and image translations, as well as the ability to translate conversations.
DeepL Translator: DeepL is known for its advanced AI-driven translation capabilities. While it might not have been as commonly used for Korean to English translation as some other languages, it’s worth exploring, as it has gained popularity for its high-quality translations.
LingoDeer: LingoDeer is primarily known as a language learning app, but it also offers translation features. While it might not be as robust as some other translation-specific apps, it can still provide basic translations between Korean and English.
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