Google is launching a beta experience that lets you listen to real-time translations on your headphones, the company was announced on Friday. The tech giant is also bringing advanced Gemini features to Google Translate and expanding language learning tools in the Translate app.
The new real-time headset translation experience keeps each speaker’s tone, emphasis and cadence intact, so it’s easier to follow the conversation and tell who’s saying what, Google says. The new feature essentially turns any pair of headphones into a real-time, one-way translation device.
“Whether you’re trying to have a conversation in a different language, listen to a speech or lecture abroad, or watch a TV show or movie in another language, you can now put on your headphones, open the Translate app, tap Live Translation, and hear a real-time translation in your preferred language,” said Rose Yao, Google’s Vice President of Product Management, Search Verticals, in the blog post.
The beta is now live in the Translate app on Android in the US, Mexico, and India. The feature works with any pair of headphones and supports more than 70 languages.
The company plans to bring the feature to iOS and more countries in 2026.
As for the advanced Gemini features coming to Translate, Google says they will enable smarter, more natural and accurate text translations. They will also allow for improved translations of phrases with more nuanced meanings, such as slang, idioms or local expressions.
For example, if you’re trying to translate an English idiom like “stealing my thunder”, you’ll now get a more accurate translation instead of a literal word-for-word translation, as Gemini will analyze the context to capture what the idiom actually means.
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This update is now rolling out in the US and India, translating between English and nearly 20 languages, including Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, and German. The update is available in the Translate app on Android, iOS, and the web.
Google is also expanding its language learning tools to nearly 20 new countries, including Germany, India, Sweden and Taiwan. English speakers can now practice German, while Bengali, Mandarin Chinese (Simplified), Dutch, German, Hindi, Italian, Romanian, and Swedish can practice English.
The tech giant is also adding enhanced feedback so you can get helpful tips based on your speaking practice.
Additionally, Google is adding a feature that tracks how many days in a row you learn, making it easier to see your progress and stay consistent. While the tools were already designed to deal with Duolingo, this new feature brings the experience even closer to the popular language learning app.
