A supplier emailed a three-paragraph update in Turkish, your hotel check-in screen shows rules in Japanese, and a colleague pasted a German error log into Slack — all before lunch. Installing a separate translation app for each situation wastes time and phone storage. Itqan's text translator runs in your browser: paste up to 10,000 characters, upload a photo for OCR, open a translated website in a new tab, or jump to full PDF translation — across 100+ languages with auto-detect, local history, and saved bookmarks. No account, no install. This guide explains all four modes, four real workflows, and how to get accurate results — written manually for Itqan users.
What is the text translator?
The text translator is Itqan's instant, browser-based translation workspace. Type or paste source text on the left, pick source and target languages, and read the result on the right — or switch tabs for images, documents, or websites. It complements PDF translate (whole files with layout preservation) and differs from it by focusing on fast snippets, photos, and live URLs rather than multi-page contracts.
Machine translation is ideal for everyday comprehension, quick replies, and travel — not a substitute for certified human translation on binding legal or medical documents. Always review numbers, names, and technical terms before acting on the output.
When do you need the translator?
- Travel: Decode a street sign, museum plaque, or restaurant menu from a phone photo.
- Work: Understand a foreign-language email, chat message, or support ticket excerpt.
- Learning: Read a short news paragraph or textbook section in another language.
- Browsing: Skim a product page, forum thread, or government site you cannot read.
- Chat and social: Draft a quick reply in the other person's language.
- Shopping: Check shipping terms or return policy on an overseas store.
- Research: Pull meaning from a foreign abstract before deciding whether to order a human translation.
100+ supported languages
The language picker lists more than 100 languages — from English–Arabic and English–Spanish to regional options worldwide. Set auto-detect when unsure; lock the source manually on short clips to reduce mis-detection. RTL languages (Arabic, Hebrew, Urdu) render correctly. Use swap to flip languages and search the picker by name.
Four translation modes — overview
| Mode | Input | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Text | Type or paste — max 10,000 characters | Emails, chat, paragraphs, error messages |
| Images | Upload JPEG/PNG/WebP/GIF — max 12 MB | Signs, menus, screenshots, handwritten notes (OCR) |
| Documents | Opens PDF translate | Full PDFs, reports, contracts with layout |
| Websites | Paste URL — translated site in new tab | Foreign news, docs, product pages |
All modes share the same language controls on the text tab. Image mode runs OCR first, then translates extracted text. Website mode keeps you on the translator page while the translated site opens separately.
Text mode — up to 10,000 characters
The source box accepts up to 10,000 characters — roughly 1,500–2,000 English words — with a live counter (0/10000). Toolbar actions: voice input, listen, paste, and clear on the source side; listen, copy, and clear on the target. Split longer material at paragraph boundaries, or switch to Documents mode for full PDFs.
Image mode — OCR then translate
Upload JPEG, PNG, WebP, or GIF up to 12 MB. OCR extracts visible text, then translation runs. Use sharp, well-lit photos; screenshots OCR more cleanly than angled menu shots. If no text is detected, retry with a clearer image or type manually in text mode.
Documents mode — full PDF translation
The Documents tab opens PDF translate for whole files with optional preserve layout. Scanned PDFs may need OCR PDF first.
Website mode — translate a URL
Paste a URL with https://, pick target language, and click translate. The translated site opens in a new tab — allow pop-ups if blocked. Best for public pages; logged-in dashboards and paywalled content may not translate fully.
Step-by-step walkthrough
- Open the text translator on desktop or mobile.
- Choose a tab: Text, Images, Documents, or Websites.
- Tap the source language button — pick a language or auto-detect.
- Tap the target language button and select your desired output language.
- Enter text (up to 10,000 characters), upload an image (up to 12 MB), or paste a website URL.
- Wait for translation or OCR to finish — loading spinners appear on active panels.
- Copy the result, listen via the speaker icon, or click Save this translation for later.
- Open History to reload recent pairs from the current browser session storage.
Travel — menu from a photo
In Lisbon with a Portuguese-only menu: photograph it in good light, upload via Images on your phone, target English, and read OCR plus translation. Verify allergen lines and prices visually — stylized fonts can confuse OCR.
Work — foreign email reply
A client emails in Italian about a delay. Paste into Text mode, auto-detect source, target English, then swap languages to draft your Italian reply and copy it to your mail client. Attachments as PDF? Use PDF translate.
Study — short passage
Paste a 400-character French excerpt, target Arabic, and use listen on both sides. History stores the pair for tomorrow's revision — well under the 10,000-character cap.
Browsing — foreign news site
Paste a Korean blog URL in Websites mode, allow the new tab, and skim the translated page. Switch to text mode to quote a paragraph in an internal report.
History and saved items
History reloads recent source/target pairs from local browser storage. Saved stores bookmarks via Save this translation until you clear site data. Neither is a cloud archive — copy critical text to a notes app for backup.
Voice input, listen, and settings
Voice input dictates source text on supported browsers; Listen reads source or target aloud. Settings adjusts playback speed (slow, normal, fast) — helpful when learning pronunciation.
Text translator vs PDF translate
Text translator handles snippets, photos, and URLs (10,000-character cap). PDF translate processes whole documents with layout preservation. Audio to text transcribes recordings — the opposite of typing.
Common mistakes
Pasting more than 10,000 characters
The source box stops accepting input at the limit. Split long content or use PDF translate for full documents.
Blurry menu photos
OCR returns garbage on dark, angled shots. Retake the photo or type visible lines manually.
Wrong source language on short text
Auto-detect can mis-guess on five-word strings. Set the source language manually.
Expecting certified legal quality
Machine output helps you understand — hire a certified translator for official submission.
Blocked pop-up on website mode
Enable pop-ups for Itqan so the translated tab can open.
Pre-use checklist
- Text under 10,000 characters — or split / use PDF mode.
- Image under 12 MB in a supported format.
- Source language set manually on short text if auto-detect mis-guesses.
- Numbers, dates, and names verified before sending.
- Sensitive content: read Privacy Policy and Security below.
Frequently asked questions
Is the text translator free?
Yes — use it in your browser with no account or subscription.
How many languages are supported?
100+ languages in the picker, with auto-detect for the source.
What is the character limit for text?
10,000 characters in the source box, shown in the live counter.
Can I translate an image?
Yes — upload JPEG, PNG, WebP, or GIF up to 12 MB. OCR extracts text, then translation runs.
Are my translations stored on your servers?
History and saved items live locally in your browser. They are not a permanent cloud archive. Text sent for translation is processed to return results — see security section for handling practices.
Does it work on mobile?
Yes — responsive layout on modern Android and iPhone browsers, including image upload from the camera roll.
How is this different from PDF translate?
The text translator handles pasted paragraphs, photos, and URLs. PDF translate processes whole PDF files with optional layout preservation.
Wrap-up
Open Itqan's text translator when you need fast meaning across 100+ languages: paste up to 10,000 characters, photograph text in image mode, skim foreign sites via website URLs, or jump to PDF translate for full documents. Use history and saved items for repeat phrases, listen to output when learning, and always verify critical numbers and names. For audio instead of text, try audio to text; for spoken output, text to speech.
Related tools
- PDF translate — full documents with layout preservation.
- Audio to text — transcribe recordings, then translate the transcript.
- Text to speech — hear translated text in natural voices.
- OCR PDF — make scanned PDFs searchable before document translation.
- Word counter — check length before hitting the 10,000-character cap.
Security and privacy
At Itqan, submitted text and images are processed to deliver results — not used for AI training or resale. Connections use HTTPS. History and Saved stay in local browser storage. See our Privacy Policy, Cookie Policy, and Security page. For confidential material, follow your organization's rules before pasting online. Open the text translator when ready.
Review loop after machine translation
Translate in the translator, then verify length with the word counter and tone in a human pass. For PDF bodies, prefer the dedicated PDF translate path when layout must stay intact.