Google Translate uses AI to help you practice pronunciation

Google is celebrating the 20th anniversary of Google Translate by launching a new feature called pronunciation practice. This feature, which has been highly requested by users, is currently available only on Android devices in the United States and India. It supports three languages: English, Spanish, and Hindi. Users will find a button labeled “Practice” at the bottom of the app, which allows them to either pronounce the translated text or listen to the correct pronunciation by native speakers. When users select the “pronounce” option, Google Translate employs artificial intelligence to analyze their speech. It provides instant feedback on pronunciation, helping users improve their enunciation before engaging in conversations in their chosen language. The tool also offers phonetic spellings of words to guide users on how to pronounce them correctly. For example, if a user mispronounces the Spanish word for juice, "jugo," with an English "j" sound, the app will indicate the correct pronunciation as “HU-go.” This new pronunciation practice feature bears similarities to existing pronunciation tools found in language learning applications like Duolingo. As of now, Google has not announced plans for expanding this feature to other regions or making it available for iOS users. The rollout of this feature marks a significant enhancement in Google Translate’s capabilities, aiming to assist users in language learning and pronunciation improvement.