translate-shell
A command-line translator that uses Google Translate, Bing, Yandex, and Apertium for quick translations in the terminal.
What is translate-shell?
Translate Shell is a command-line translator that provides access to multiple translation engines like Google Translate, Bing, and Yandex directly from the terminal. It allows users to translate text, look up dictionary definitions, identify languages, and even use text-to-speech functionality without a graphical interface.
Developers, system administrators, and power users who work extensively in the terminal and need quick translations or language tools without switching to a web browser.
It consolidates multiple translation services into a single, scriptable CLI tool with features like interactive shells, file translation, and audio playback, making it a versatile alternative to web-based translators for terminal-centric workflows.
Overview
:speech_balloon: Command-line translator using Google Translate, Bing Translator, Yandex.Translate, etc.
Use Cases
Best For
- Translating text snippets quickly while working in the terminal
- Looking up dictionary definitions for words in multiple languages
- Automating translation tasks in shell scripts or pipelines
- Learning pronunciation of foreign words via text-to-speech
- Translating local text files or web pages from the command line
- Identifying the language of unknown text automatically
Not Ideal For
- Applications requiring offline translation without internet access
- Enterprise environments needing guaranteed API stability and support SLAs
- Windows users without WSL, Cygwin, or MSYS2 for native-like experience
- High-volume batch translation tasks where network latency is a concern
Pros & Cons
Pros
Supports Google Translate, Bing, Yandex, and Apertium, allowing users to switch engines for better accuracy or fallback options, as detailed in the README's engine list.
Offers a shell-like interface with the '-shell' option for continuous, line-by-line translation, making it convenient for iterative work without exiting the terminal.
Integrates dictionary lookup, automatic language identification, and text-to-speech playback, providing a suite of utilities beyond basic translation.
Can translate local files via 'file://' URIs and web pages, extending functionality to various input sources directly from the command line.
Cons
Requires GNU Awk 4.0+ and optional tools like curl, FriBidi, and audio players for full features, which can complicate installation on some systems.
Depends on free translation services that may change terms, impose rate limits, or become unavailable, risking instability for automated workflows.
Best on Unix-like systems; Windows requires WSL or similar emulation layers, adding overhead and potential compatibility issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
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