Google Translate Chrome Extension: Translate Selected Text

The Google Translate extension is built for quick lookups while you read. Select a phrase on any page, click the Translate icon that appears next to it, and the translation shows in a small bubble.

What it does today

• Highlight and translate: select text, then click the icon beside it to translate into your language.
• Right-click: translate a selection from the context menu.
• Automatic pop-ups: an option can show the translation every time you highlight text.
• Romanization: for text in a non-Latin script, the extension shows a romanized version.
• Listen: a listen button plays the original text, including full support for Cantonese.

What it no longer does

Whole-page translation used to be part of the extension. Google’s listing notes that page translation is now supported natively in Chrome and no longer in the extension. For a full page, use Chrome’s built-in translate option in the address bar instead.

How to add it

1. The Download button opens Google Translate on the Chrome Web Store.
2. Click Add to Chrome. Installing it means agreeing to Google’s Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
3. Open the extension’s options to choose your target language and whether translations pop up automatically.

Privacy note

The store listing discloses that the extension handles location, user activity and website content; the text you select is sent to Google for translation. On a phone, the Google Translate app offers camera and conversation translation as well.