Type in English, send it in Spanish
Updated · 4 min read
Short answer
An English to Spanish translation keyboard lets you type in English and send the message in Spanish without leaving the chat. Swaytype does this on iPhone: type in English, tap Translate, choose Spanish, and the text field now holds natural Spanish. It works in WhatsApp, iMessage and every other app, and it translates the Spanish messages you receive back into English.
A real example
🇺🇸 Typed in English
hey r u still down for dinner tmrw? i found this tiny thai place near ur work, they say its amazing
🇪🇸 Sent in Spanish
oye, sigues con ganas de cenar mañana? encontré este pequeño restaurante tailandés cerca de tu trabajo, dicen que es increíble
Real Swaytype output
It keeps the tone. "hey r u still down" becomes "oye, sigues con ganas", which is how a Spanish speaker would actually text it, not a stiff word-by-word translation. Swaytype rewrites the whole message the way a native speaker would say it.
How to text in Spanish when you don't speak it
- 1
Type in your language
Write the way you always do, slang and typos included.
- 2
Tap Translate
It's on the bar above the keys.
- 3
Pick the language
Choose from your list. You decide in the app which languages show up there.
- 4
Check it and send
Your text is replaced by the translation in a couple of seconds. Changed your mind? Undo puts your original back.
Swaytype detects the language you wrote in, so you never have to set "from English". You only pick where the message is going.
Read their Spanish replies in English
When the answer comes back in Spanish, copy it and tap Translate received message on the Swaytype keyboard. The English shows up above your keys, and you never leave the chat.
🇪🇸 Received in Spanish
hola!! vi tu anuncio del depa, sigue disponible? me interesa mucho y podria ir a verlo este sabado
🇺🇸 Read in English
hi!! i saw your listing for the apartment, is it still available? i’m really interested and could go see it this saturday
Real Swaytype output
It works the other way too
If Spanish is your first language, type in Spanish and send it in English. Handy for work messages, school chats or your English-speaking friends.
🇪🇸 Typed in Spanish
oye q tal todo? ya llegue a la casa, gracias x la cena de anoche estuvo buenisima, repetimos pronto va?
🇺🇸 Sent in English
hey how’s everything? I already got home, thanks for dinner last night it was amazing, we should do it again soon yeah?
Real Swaytype output
Who uses it
- Families where one side texts in English and the other in Spanish.
- Landlords, tenants and neighbors who don't share a language.
- Coworkers, customers and clients on WhatsApp.
- Dating apps and new friends from abroad.
Try it in your next message.
Free to start. 10 rewrites a day, no card needed.
Scan with your iPhone cameraTranslator keyboard or Spanish keyboard?
Apple's Spanish keyboard gives you ñ, accents and Spanish autocorrect, but you still need to know Spanish. A translator keyboard writes the Spanish for you. Many people use both. Here's how to add the Spanish keyboard on iPhone.
