Translating a page in your browser: which extensions should you use?

Translating a web page quickly and easily is essential for accessing multilingual Internet content. Downloading an extension can be particularly useful for this purpose. These plug-ins generate automatic and instantaneous translations of digital content. 

In this article, Optilingua gives you an overview of the different extensions you can use to translate a page in your browser.

What is an extension?

An extension, also known as an add-on or plug-in, is a software component designed to personalise a browser by adding specific functions. There are all kinds of extensions including ad blockers, SEO optimisation tools, spell checkers and, of course, automatic translators. The compatibility of extensions varies depending on the browsers used (Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, and Opera etc.).

→ Good to know: For safe browsing, you should be wary of malicious extensions and adware, which can sometimes masquerade as well-known plug-ins (like Google Translate, for example).

Which extensions should you download to translate a page in your browser? 

There are a large number of plug-ins dedicated to the automatic translation of web pages. Here are a few examples of free translation plug-ins that you can download into your browser:

S3 Translator 

One of the most popular options, the S3 Translator extension will give you a fairly accurate translation and is available on Chrome and Firefox. However, it is not very effective for rare languages.

Reverso Context 

Reverso Context offers high-quality contextual translations. This extension is compatible with Chrome, Firefox, and Safari.

Google Translate

The Google Translate plug-in offers a vast choice of languages, but the accuracy of the results can vary greatly depending on the context. This translation extension is available on Chrome, Firefox, and other browsers via its web version.

TranslateMe

TranslateMe is an effective extension that provides fast, accurate translations. However, it does not have many advanced features and is mainly limited to Chrome.

ImTranslator

Finally, ImTranslator offers extensive functionality. However, its interface can appear cluttered and can hinder the user experience. This web translation extension is available for Chrome, Firefox, and Opera.

How do you choose a translation extension?

There are a number of factors to consider when choosing a translation extension, including: 

The languages supported by the plug-in 

The languages supported by the extension must match your translation needs. Most automatic translation modules offer translations in the most common languages (English, Spanish, French, etc.), but the rarer languages are less frequently offered.

The accuracy of the translations obtained 

You should also assess the accuracy of the plug-in before making your choice. Some plug-ins have additional functions, such as contextual translations or examples of use, which means that the end result is more accurate. 

The plug-in's compatibility with your browser 

You should also check that the extension is compatible with your preferred browser and whether there are any restrictions or limitations associated with its use. 

You should consider researching the opinions and testimonials of other users before choosing your translation extension.

Translating a page with extensions: what are the limits?

Despite their many advantages (speed, free installation, ease of use, etc.), web extensions also have significant limitations.

Random quality 

First of all, you should be aware that the quality of machine translations is highly unpredictable, and the results often include language errors, linguistic inconsistencies, or literal translations. With a web extension, the reliability of the final result is therefore not guaranteed. Low-quality content can have a negative impact on the user experience, making it very difficult to understand the text and the site as a whole.

A limited number of languages 

While certain web extensions can be quite effective in common languages (English, Spanish, Italian, French, etc.), they are less effective in rarer languages, such as Basque, Tamil, Slovenian etc. These languages are not very widespread and therefore, machine translation technologies have not yet collected enough data to provide an optimal result.

A lack of adaptability 

Finally, you should be aware that web extensions do not always consider the cultural dimensions of translation. Once translated, the result may surprise Internet users, or even offend them. What's more, as with any other automatic translation tools, the extensions are rarely able to adapt to specialised content (financial, medical, legal, etc.) and can therefore leave plenty of room for translation errors due to a lack of understanding of the technical content.

It is not advisable for your company to rely solely on the use of a plug-in by Internet users to ensure that your multilingual site is understood.

Why you should use a professional translator to translate a web page

Unlike machine translation tools, a specialist professional translator can understand all the cultural and linguistic nuances of a text, and transpose them accurately into the target language. 

By using the services of an experienced human translator who specialises in the sector of activity (marketing, e-commerce, agri-food, legal, medical, etc.) you can therefore be guaranteed a reliable result, whatever the subject matter and the level of technicality of the content. The web translator will sometimes also be able to consider SEO criteria and translate content in a way that is optimised for the web, to guarantee the visibility of web pages on search engines. When translating, they will also be able to use a writing style that is adapted to the web, as well as to the culture of the target country.

With Optilingua, you benefit from the services of highly qualified professional translators, who specialise in the web sector and in the field concerned by the translation. They translate exclusively into their mother tongue and have in-depth knowledge of the local culture and linguistic standards specific to the market targeted by the translation.

FAQ on translation extensions