Translate Emails in Gmail: A Simple Guide

ByJim Miller

Received an email in a language you don't understand? Tired of copying and pasting text into Google Translate? Well, fret no more! Gmail now offers a native translation feature that allows you to effortlessly translate emails in over 100 languages. Powered by Google Translate, this feature is available on both desktop and mobile. Read on to learn how to translate emails directly within Gmail.

How to Translate Emails in Gmail on Android and iPhone

  1. Open the Gmail app on your phone and navigate to the email you want to translate.
  2. Tap on the kebab menu (three-dot menu) next to the sender's name. Then select the Translate option from the menu.

Translate option on Gmail

  1. A translation bar will appear below the sender's name, automatically detecting and translating the email into your regional language.
  2. To customize the translation, tap on the cog icon on the right side of the translation bar. You can choose the language the email is in or the language you want to translate it to.

Selecting language to translate on Gmail

  1. Gmail supports over 100 languages, so you can select the one that suits you best.

Selecting language to translate on Gmail mobile app

  1. Once you've made your selection, the entire email will be translated accordingly.
  2. If you want to view the original email again, simply tap on the Show original option in the translation bar.

Now, whenever you receive an email in a different language, Gmail will conveniently display the translation option at the top of the email. With just a single tap, you can effortlessly translate the email to your preferred language.

How to Translate Emails in Gmail on PC and Mac

  1. Open your favorite browser and go to the Gmail website. Open the email you wish to translate.
  2. Click on the kebab menu (three-dot menu) next to the sender's name and select the Translate message option.

Translate message on Gmail desktop

  1. A translation bar will appear below the sender's name. By default, it will automatically detect the text and update the language based on your region.
  2. To manually change the language, click on the cog icon in the translation bar. A pop-up menu will appear, allowing you to select the language of the email.

Selecting the email language on Gmail

  1. Choose from the drop-down menu of supported languages.

Selecting a language to translate on Gmail

  1. Once you've made your selection, the entire email, including the subject line, will be instantly translated. However, please note that this feature only translates the selected email and not the entire thread. If there are multiple replies, you'll need to translate each email manually.
  2. If you want to view the original email again, simply click on the Show original option in the translation bar.

Now, whenever you receive an email in a language other than your preferred one, Gmail will provide a translation shortcut under the sender's name, allowing you to translate the email instantly.

Translate Emails in a Snap

Gmail's native translation feature, long overdue, makes the process seamless so that you don't have to rely on manual translation anymore. With support for over 100 languages, you can easily translate emails on both desktop and mobile. However, please note that the feature does not currently translate text from images. Hopefully, Google will integrate this functionality with their Google Lens technology in the future.

So, why wait? Start translating your emails effortlessly and stay connected with people from all around the world!