TransLemon
English

Point at text, snap a photo, done

Read menus and signs abroad – and talk with locals

TransLemon lays the translation right over the original text in your photo, explains dishes with pictures and allergens, and turns a single button into a two-way interpreter. Your pocket translator for travel.

Download on theApp Store

Free to try · iPhone · iOS 17 or later

TransLemon translating a handwritten Japanese menu board into English: the translations fill in over each line of the photo
  1. 1

    Take a photo

    Snap a menu, sign or label, or pick a picture from your library.

  2. 2

    Any language, detected

    TransLemon reads the text – horizontal or vertical, printed or handwritten.

  3. 3

    Translation in place

    Each translation appears exactly where the original was, so the layout stays clear.

Photo translation

Translations that sit right on the photo

No more matching line after line of a list against the original. TransLemon covers every block of text with its translation in place – a menu still looks like a menu, a sign still looks like a sign – in the language you chose.

  • Overlaid in place

    Each line is translated where it stands, sized to fit, even on vertical Japanese and Chinese menus.

  • Know what you're ordering

    Tap a dish for a short introduction, real photos of what it looks like and possible allergens.

  • Compare with the original

    Tap any translation to see the original text underneath. Pinch to zoom into the details.

  • Recognizes any language

    No need to choose the source language. Japanese, Thai, Korean, Arabic… it just works.

Made for

  • Restaurant menus
  • Street and station signs
  • Product labels & ingredients
  • Instructions & notices
  • Museum captions
  • Hotel information
Tapping a dish on the translated menu opens an introduction with allergen notes and reference photos
Tap a dish: introduction, photos, allergens

Conversation translation

One button, both sides of the conversation

Hold the button and talk. TransLemon works out who is speaking, translates as soon as you let go and reads your words aloud in the other person's language. Order face to face, ask for directions, check in at a hotel – just hand over your phone.

  • Hold to speak, release to translate

    The same button for you and the person you're talking to – no switching sides.

  • Knows who is talking

    Your words go into their language, theirs come back into yours, automatically.

  • Reads it aloud

    Your translation is spoken to them right away; tap the speaker to replay any line.

  • Remembers your pair

    Pick their language once – TransLemon keeps the pair for your next few chats.

Perfect for

  • Ordering food
  • Asking for directions
  • Hotel check-in
  • Shopping
  • Taxis
  • Pharmacies
English 日本語

  1. Hi! Do you have a table for two?

    こんにちは！2人ですが、席はありますか？

  2. はい、窓側の席へどうぞ。

    Yes, please take a seat by the window.

  3. I'm allergic to peanuts. Is this curry OK for me?

    ピーナッツアレルギーがあります。このカレーは大丈夫ですか？

  4. ピーナッツは入っていないので、ご安心ください。

    There are no peanuts in it, so don't worry.

Hold to speak

Hold to speak, for you or the other person. Release to translate.

Each message shows the original and the translation

19 languages, both ways

Every language below works as the app language and as the translation target. Photos can be in any language at all.

  • 中文
  • 繁體中文
  • English
  • 日本語
  • 한국어
  • Español
  • Français
  • Deutsch
  • Italiano
  • Português
  • Русский
  • Bahasa Indonesia
  • Türkçe
  • ไทย
  • Tiếng Việt
  • हिन्दी
  • বাংলা
  • اردو
  • العربية
  • Translated Japanese menu board with English overlays
  • Dish details with introduction, allergens and photos
  • Conversation translation screen with the hold-to-speak button
  • TransLemon home screen with the target language picker

Private by design

Your photos are stored only on your iPhone and you can delete them at any time. Our servers do not keep recordings of your conversations.

Free to try

Every new install comes with a free allowance for photo and conversation translation. Need more? Basic and Plus plans are available weekly, monthly or yearly, and monthly and yearly plans start with a 3-day free trial. Cancel anytime in Settings.

Frequently asked questions

Is TransLemon free?

Yes, you can download it for free and try photo and conversation translation right away with the included free allowance. For higher limits you can subscribe to Basic or Plus; monthly and yearly plans include a 3-day free trial.

Which languages does TransLemon support?

19 languages as both app language and translation target: English, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Japanese, Korean, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Indonesian, Turkish, Thai, Vietnamese, Hindi, Bengali, Urdu and Arabic. Text in photos can be in any language.

Do I have to choose the language of the menu or sign?

No. TransLemon detects the source language automatically – just choose the language you want to read, and take the photo.

Can it translate vertical or handwritten menus?

Yes. Vertical Japanese and Chinese text and clear handwriting on menu boards are recognized, and the translation is placed over each original line.

How does conversation translation know who is speaking?

You and the other person use the same button. TransLemon recognizes which of the two languages was spoken and translates into the other one. Your words are read aloud to them automatically.

Does TransLemon work offline?

No, an internet connection is required, because recognition and translation run on our servers for the best quality.

Are my photos and conversations stored?

Photos are kept only on your device and can be deleted at any time. Conversation recordings are not kept on our servers.

Which devices are supported?

TransLemon is available on the App Store for iPhone running iOS 17 or later.

Travel without the language barrier

Download TransLemon and turn menus, signs and conversations into a language you understand.

Download on theApp Store