By Atoyebi Nike
Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, has introduced a new in-app message translation feature to help its more than 3 billion users communicate across languages while maintaining privacy.
The rollout, which began on Tuesday, allows users to long-press any message, tap Translate, and choose a preferred language. On Android, users can also enable automatic translation for entire chat threads.
Initially, Android users will access six languages which includes English, Spanish, Hindi, Portuguese, Russian, and Arabic while iPhone users will have more than 19 options.
Meta stressed that translations happen directly on users’ devices, ensuring messages remain protected under WhatsApp’s end-to-end encryption.
“We’re excited to bring message translations to WhatsApp, so you can more easily communicate across languages,” the company said in a statement.
The move is part of WhatsApp’s broader expansion strategy. In June, the platform introduced tools for creators and businesses, including Channel Subscriptions, Promoted Channels, and Ads in Status, signaling its shift toward monetization.
With over 180 countries depending on WhatsApp for communication, the translation feature is expected to foster stronger connections in multilingual communities worldwide.
