Apple Watch lets you translate your conversations in real-time. Here's how

Lance Whitney/ZDNET

My wife and I took a trip to Japan about a year ago. Though many of the people we met spoke at least some English, conversations were sometimes challenging. At the time, I used my iPhone to translate between English and Japanese. But the next time we visit another country, I'll be able to use Apple's Translate app directly from my Apple Watch.

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Added to the watch with WatchOS 11, the Translate app prompts you to choose your two languages, speak, and then listen to the translation. You can modify the speed of the playback to make it faster or slower. Plus, you can download as many as 20 different languages, so the translations will work without an internet connection. 

How to use Apple Watch Translate in real time

Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET Screenshot by Lance Whitney/ZDNET

How to get the most out of the Translate app

No app is perfect, and that includes the Translate app. But there are ways to make it more effective and reliable.