Free beta · Android, iOS & Web
Travel phrases ready when you need them. Just tap and say.
26 languages · No account · No ads · Works offline
Why TapSay was created
When we landed in China, we couldn't get the airport Wi-Fi to work. There was an internet booth that was supposed to give us access after scanning our passports and boarding passes, but that didn't work either. We tried the shops, but there were no SIM cards to buy. We ended up stuck at the airport for hours without internet.
We hadn't expected to have so much trouble getting connected. It was a frustrating start and affected our experience of the trip.
As we travelled around China, we had to use phone translators almost all the time. They helped us communicate, but using them so much wasn't an enjoyable part of the trip. I wanted an easier way to talk to people.
I started making TapSay for my own travels. I wanted useful phrases on the go, when I needed them, and a simpler way to communicate using my phone while travelling. Then I decided to share it, because I thought other travellers might find it useful too.
I'm still working on it. There are bugs to fix and more things I'd like to add. If you try it, I'd really appreciate hearing what you think. Your feedback helps me make it better.
I also see TapSay as a simple way to learn the sentences you're most likely to use. Listen to their pronunciation, practise saying them and save your favourites so they're easy to find. Romanisation and pronunciation guides are also available for supported phrases. This reading help is currently designed for English readers.
Paweł, the maker of TapSay
What's inside
614 phrases · 24 situation decks · 9 home layouts
We've brought together phrases and tools for the things you often need while travelling.
The phrasebook works offline. For offline free-text translation in the Android and iOS betas, download language models. Speech playback needs local voices on your phone. For offline microphone input, the native apps offer one optional 190 MB speech pack for all 26 languages.
Each person has their own half of the screen and microphone button. Sit opposite each other and put the phone between you.
Save your blood type, medication and contacts. Allergy cards show crossed-out food symbols with translated labels. Always confirm important details with a person.
Look up 150 food words, including allergens, in English or the local language. You can also hear them spoken.
Enter an amount to see it written in the language you choose and hear how to say it.
Tap a phrase to hear it, or show it in large text. You can adjust the text size, and you do not need an account.
Save the words you actually use, with their meaning and pronunciation. Organise them into your own topics.
Group phrases for your trip, café stops or daily routine. Name each topic and give it an icon.
Keep your most useful phrases on the main screen so they are quick and easy to find.
Find useful phrases for airports, taxis, hotels and restaurants in 24 situation decks.
Talking to someone
Talk splits the screen into two halves. One faces you and the other is turned around for the person opposite. You each have your own microphone button and can scroll through the conversation in your own language.
Using TapSay
You can use Talk at a gathering or during a journey. Sit opposite each other, choose your languages and take turns using the microphone at your end.
Before you travel
The phrasebook, spoken playback and live Talk have different requirements. We recommend checking your chosen languages before you leave.
TapSay uses your device’s built-in speech tools and voices, alongside supported downloadable language models.
Open the website once to cache the phrasebook, or install the Android or iOS beta. Ready-made phrase translations do not need live translation.
For free-text translation in the Android and iOS apps, enable on-device translation and download models for your languages. For speech playback, install local voices through your phone's voice settings.
For offline microphone input, download the optional 190 MB multilingual speech pack inside the app. One pack supports all 26 languages. Test both microphones and playback in airplane mode; speed and accuracy vary between phones.
Website and native apps: the website's free-text translation and voice conversations need internet. Installing it on your Home Screen does not change that. The Android and iOS apps support offline free-text translation after setup; fully offline Talk additionally needs offline speech recognition and local voices. A single optional 190 MB speech download covers all 26 recognition languages in the Android and iOS apps.
A quick look
Who it's for
Increase the text size up to 130%. Use the playback buttons or show a phrase in large text if that is easier to read.
Open the web app, choose a language and try a few phrases. There is no sign-up and no need to install an app first.
Save phrases to Favourites or pin them to the top of your home screen so you can find them quickly.
Make it yours
There are nine home layouts and six themes. You can change the text size and spacing, hide or reorder topics, and choose which phrases to keep on your home screen.
Get TapSay
You can try TapSay for free while we develop it. We will post new Android and iOS beta builds here as they are ready.
Try the latest Android prototype. Pre-release beta for testing. Android 7 or newer. Version 2.1.0-beta.12 · 45.7 MB.
Download Android betaThis pre-release beta is downloaded directly from this website, outside Google Play.
Optional in-app speech download: one 190 MB pack for all 26 languages. The pack is separate from this APK. Playback voices and translation models are installed separately.
This is a debug beta, not a Google Play release. Bugs and incorrect translations are possible. Verify important information independently, especially allergies and medical instructions. TapSay must not be your only safety check.
Try on AndroidInstall this pre-release IPA through AltStore Classic or SideStore using your own Apple ID. Both need a computer for initial setup. SideStore can then refresh apps over Wi-Fi without your computer.
Download iPhone beta IPAiOS 16.4 or later · 23.3 MB · Refresh every 7 days with a free Apple ID.
Optional in-app speech download: one 190 MB pack for all 26 languages. Playback voices and translation models are installed separately.
Use AltStore Classic for this IPA. AltStore PAL uses a different distribution process.
SideStore is a free alternative. Start with the official SideStore setup guide for your computer.
Downloading the IPA alone does not install it. SideStore signs it for your own iPhone. Mobile data alone is not enough for SideStore refreshes.
Early beta: installation and iPhone compatibility are still being checked. Please send us any problems through feedback.
Try on iPhoneNothing to install. Add it to your Home Screen and it behaves like an app. Phrases and browsing work offline once cached; free-text translation needs internet in the browser.
Open tapsay-eka.pages.devBest on Chrome and Safari. Microphone support depends on your browser.
TapSay is still a beta and translations can be wrong. Please verify important information, especially allergies and medical instructions.
Tell us what you think
We genuinely believe TapSay is a good app idea, and we want to make it better.
Bug reports, ideas for new features and your general thoughts are all welcome. If you try the app, we would really appreciate hearing what you think.
We have more ideas and features planned that aren't in the app yet. Your feedback helps us decide what to build next and what needs fixing.
Questions
The ready-made phrasebook works offline: bundled in the Android and iOS apps and cached after a first visit to the website. Local voice playback needs installed offline voices. The Android and iOS apps support offline free-text translation with downloaded language models. Fully offline Talk also needs supported on-device recognition for both languages. Test your chosen languages in airplane mode before relying on them. Website free-text translation and Talk need internet.
English, Polish, Spanish, German, French, Portuguese, Russian, Italian, Thai, Vietnamese, Filipino, Japanese, Chinese, Hindi, Arabic, Ukrainian, Turkish, Korean, Indonesian, Greek, Swedish, Dutch, Norwegian, Czech, Romanian and Malay. You can choose any of these 26 languages for either side of Talk.
Nothing while in beta. TapSay has no ads and no account. Installing the iOS beta through AltStore Classic or SideStore requires your own Apple ID and a computer for initial setup.
Saved favourites, custom phrases and emergency cards stay on your device. Online translation sends the text to the selected provider; browser speech recognition may use the browser maker's service. Feedback is optional and sends your message through the feedback service. This marketing website uses no analytics or cookies.
Translations can contain mistakes, including serious ones. Live translation quality and accuracy depend on the translation engine or provider in use. Your device, speech engine, installed language support and background noise also affect how accurately your spoken words are captured. Even when speech is captured correctly, the translation can still be wrong.
Built-in phrase translations are stored in TapSay and do not improve just because you change your device or engine. They are machine-drafted and still need native-speaker review.
Verify allergies, medical information and other important details with a qualified person. Symbols reinforce the message but do not guarantee safe food or care.
Yes. Download the iOS beta from the Get the beta section and install it through AltStore Classic or SideStore using your own Apple ID. Both need a computer for setup and seven-day refreshes with a free account. AltStore refreshes use your computer; SideStore can refresh over Wi-Fi with LocalDevVPN after setup. This is an early beta; installation and iPhone compatibility are still being checked. You can also use the web app in Safari and add it to your Home Screen.
