iOS 27: Translate app gets nine new languages

With iOS 27, the Translate app grows significantly: Apple expands the selection from 21 to 30 languages and accents. The new feature appeared in the third beta – in addition to several European languages, Hebrew and other variants are also included.

Apple is expanding language support in iOS 27 in several areas, and the Translate app is among the biggest beneficiaries. The Translate app, which has been a core component of the system since iOS 14 and is known internationally as Apple Translate, will support nine additional languages and accents with the upcoming update, bringing its total to 30 instead of the previous 21. This expansion was revealed in the third developer beta of iOS 27; the final list may therefore change before the official release this fall.

These nine languages are being added

According to the current beta, the following new features are supported in iOS 27:

Chinese (Cantonese, traditional)
Danish
Hebrew
Malay
Norwegian (Bokmål)
Portuguese (Portugal)
Spanish (Mexico)
Spanish (USA)
Swedish

This addition complements Apple's existing selection, which already includes languages such as German, English, French, Italian, Spanish (Spain), Japanese, Korean, Arabic, Russian and various Chinese variants.

Several new languages related to Europe

German has long been available as a source and target language for German-speaking regions. The most interesting aspect of this expansion is the addition of further European languages: with Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, and European Portuguese, the translation app will now cover several travel destinations that were previously only partially or not at all supported. The inclusion of Spanish in the versions for Mexico and the USA also expands the app's usability beyond Europe.

Important for users in the EU: The Translate app is a standalone system app and is not tied to the new Siri generation. Unlike some Apple Intelligence features that are not initially available on iPhones and iPads in the EU, the new languages will therefore arrive in Germany and Austria as usual. In Switzerland, which is not part of the EU, these regional restrictions do not apply anyway.

Part of a larger language offensive

The expansion of the Translate app is just one piece of the puzzle. iOS 27 also brings improvements to the keyboard and text input for multiple languages, including new support for Afrikaans, Guaraní, Zulu, and several indigenous languages. Just a few months earlier, Apple had already increased the number of languages supported for localized App Store metadata. Overall, this represents a continuous expansion of language coverage across the entire system.

In terms of sheer numbers, Apple's solution remains smaller than those of some competitors, which cover many more languages. However, Apple has always relied on local processing and offline use for its Translate app after the language packs have been downloaded – an advantage for those who value privacy.

iOS 27: Here's what's next

The new language selection comes from the ongoing beta phase and is therefore not yet final. Apple may add more languages or adjust details before the final release of iOS 27 this fall. Experience shows that Apple continues to expand language support with point updates even after launch, so the list is expected to grow throughout the version's lifecycle. (Image: Apple)