Author Archives: Nagore Valera

In a previous article, we recommended several apps for booking travels in an easy and economical way, both for transportation and accommodation.
This time, we’re going to tell you about apps to organize travels that will make it easier for you to plan your trip, so you can enjoy a smooth experience and have everything under control.

Apps to organize travels

Maps.me

With MapsMe you can mark on a map the places you want to visit to plan your routes to monuments, restaurants, hotels, areas with Wifi, etc… a great advantage, everything at your fingertips even if you don’t have connection.

If you are lost and you are meeting someone but you don’t know how to find your way MapsMe gives you the option to share your location by email or sms in case you don’t have access to an internet connection. It can also be used as a GPS.

It has more than 7 million users, which places it among the top app to organize travels.

Go to Maps.me

Alternatives: CityMaps2go – Googlemaps

Splitwise

If you travel in a group on more than one occasion you will find yourself in the situation of making accounts and dividing shared expenses. With this application you will be able to keep track of expenses not only from your cell phone, but also from its website.

It works in a very simple way: we start by creating lists of expenses in which we add the members of each trip and the shared expenses that have been accumulated.

The lists can be collaborative, so that the rest of the members can add the payments they have made.

Go to Splitwise

Alternatives: Splid – Tricount

Talkao Translate

When you travel, communicating in any language is very important in order to enjoy your new experiences to the fullest.

That’s why Talkao Translate is the most complete option, since it presents a translation services kit that allows you to translate your voice into more than 125 languages, in real time or remotely, in addition to being able to consult its smart books, with up to 4000 expressions, verbs and advanced vocabulary verified by professional translators, so that you can express yourself without any problem wherever you are.

It makes use of its own translation engine thanks to the Talkao API which together with other translation engines provides very accurate results. You can download Talkao Translate for both Android and iOS.

Go to Talkao Translate

Alternatives: Google Translate – Microfost Translator

Growpro

With this app you will not miss any event held at your destination, you have access to all the exclusive events published on the platform.

The app is oriented to students abroad, but it can also be useful if you are going to travel sporadically and thus be informed about the most relevant news related to your trip abroad.

XE

When we travel outside the European Union and we want to make a purchase, we will need to use a currency other than the Euro.
In the end, it can be a little difficult to know the cost of things, so to avoid any surprises when returning home, it is a good option to use an application such as XE to convert the currency with the current exchange rate in a very fast way.

Go to XE

Alternatives: Wise

PackKing

Before going on a trip, we have to pack our bags and make sure we don’t forget anything; for this we have PackKing, an application that automatically generates a list, organized by categories, of what we need to take depending on the destination and the activities we plan to do.

We will be able to create as many lists as we want and edit them according to our needs.

Go to PackKing

If you know of other travel planning apps that are useful and can help other users, don’t hesitate to let us know by commenting below.

4.7/5 - (8 votes)

Category:

Travel & Culture

Tags:

Published Wed, 2 August 2023

Nagore Valera

Nagore Valera is a professional with more than seven years of experience in digital marketing and e-commerce, specializing in SEO and content management. She is recognized for developing and implementing effective SEO strategies and creating high-quality content that enhances online visibility and drives growth. Nagore also has experience in blog writing and developing specialized materials. Nagore has experience as an international ambassador, analyzing and improving SEO practices, promoting interdisciplinary collaboration, and enhancing the quality of digital content.

Imagine you are on holiday or on a business trip and you come across a sign at the airport or read a restaurant menu in another language.

How could you translate the text in front of you? Very easily, using the camera on your mobile phone.

The mobile phone, whether Android or iPhone, can be a great help. We always have it with us and thanks to new technologies we have endless possibilities at our fingertips, including text translation with the camera of our mobile phone.

Nowadays, there are many ways to translate text, the most common of which are explained below.

Translating text with augmented reality

Thanks to Augmented Reality, you can recognize the environment you are moving through and translate any text detected by your phone’s camera. The translation instantly appears on top of the original text. When you move and return to the original location …. magic, the translation will still be there!

It’s very useful when you go to a restaurant and you don’t understand the menu or you have a brochure that interests you but you need to know some details.

Text translator with the camera

If you need to translate text with your mobile phone camera, just frame the text you want to translate on the screen, select the language of the original text and the language you want to translate it into (usually your native language), and when you take a photo, your translation will automatically appear.

It’s that easy, and it takes less than 15 seconds. It is a very practical solution if you find yourself in a transport station where the signs are not translated.

Translating an object by recognition

Finally, we’ll show you how to translate an object you have in front of you but can’t remember its name, let alone its translation into another language. This method uses recognition technology. When you take a picture with the camera of your mobile phone, it cuts out the area of the object you want to translate and automatically starts the process of recognition and translation into the language you have previously selected.

This is a very handy solution if you are at the market and need to know the name of a fruit or vegetable so that you can ask the vendor later.

You can use these methodologies to translate text thanks to the augmented reality translation apps and the free camera translator.
As you can see, it is very easy to avoid the language barriers that we can encounter on any trip with these translation apps that you can find for both Android and iOS.

4.7/5 - (12 votes)

Category:

News

Tags:

Published Fri, 28 July 2023

Nagore Valera

Knowing Spanish proverbs and sayings can be very useful if you are applying for official certification or simply want to improve your fluency when speaking with Spanish people.

Things to consider when translating spanish sayings and proverbs

When translating proverbs and sayings into Spanish, we may find that there is no exact translation in our language. Or we may find an expression with a similar meaning.

Depending on the language, the connotations of words can vary, giving them a different concept and meaning. Proverbs and sayings are popular expressions that convey lessons of cultural wisdom.

Here is a selection of Spanish proverbs and sayings with their English equivalents.

Spanish sayings and proverbs

Más vale pájaro en mano (que ciento volando)

It emphasises the value one already has in something, as opposed to the uncertainty of obtaining something greater, at the risk of losing everything.

English translation: “A bird in the hand (is worth two in the bush)“.

Example: “En lugar de tomar el riesgo de buscar nuevas oportunidades, decidió mantenerse en su trabajo estable, creyendo que más vale pájaro en mano que ciento volando.”

No te la juegues todo a una carta

This expression is used to warn someone about the risk of gambling or relying entirely on a single option or possibility. This expression can be applied in different situations, such as making important decisions, investing money, planning projects or relying on a single person or resource. The expression “Cubrirse las espaldas” can also be used.

English translation: “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket”.

Example: “Juan estuvo considerando empezar su propio negocio, pero sus amigos le advirtieron, no te la juegues todo a una carta.”

No cantes victoria

It is smarter not to count the chicks until they have hatched, you may be in for a bad surprise.

English translation: “Don’t count your chickens (until they are hatched)”.

Example: “No cantes victoria solo por aprobar el primer examen. Aún quedan más por venir, mantente enfocado y sigue estudiando.”

Como quien oye llover

The duck’s feathers are impervious to water, so it slips. Some people are indifferent to criticism or to what others think. The expression “Entrar por un oído y salir por el otro.” can be used too.

English translation: “It’s like water off a duck`s back.”

Example: “El comentario negativo de Sara sobre su trabajo no le molesto en absoluto. Ha desarrollado tal seguridad en si mismo que escucha las críticas como quien oye llover.”

Cuando el río suena agua lleva

This saying indicates that when you hear rumours or hearsay about something, there is usually some truth behind it. It has its roots in ancient Rome and is a translation of the Latin expression “Nulla fumus sine igne”. It has been used for centuries in different cultures and languages.

English translation: “There is no smoke without fire” .

Example: “Quizás no sea culpa tuya, pero cuando el río suena agua lleva, ¿verdad?”

Las apariencias engañan

It is used to refer to people who, under their quiet and reserved appearance, hide passions. This proverb has its roots in Ancient Greece and was first used by the Roman poet Ovid in his work “Heroides”.

English translation: “Still waters run deep” or “You can’t judge a book by its cover”.

Example: “Ana parece silenciosa y reservada, pero las apariencias engañan. Si la conoces un poco te sorprenderá.“

No tires piedras sobre tu propio tejado

To criticise others for one’s shortcomings is to place oneself in a vulnerable position. This saying has its roots in the Bible, in the Gospel of John, where Jesus warns a crowd that those without sin should be the first to throw stones.

English translation: “People who live in glasshouses shouldn’t throw stones.”

Example: “Luisa, criticó a sus compañeros. Su director le recordó que no tirase piedras sobre su propio tejado, cuestionando sus acciones.”

There are many proverbs and sayings in spanish that can be useful in your daily life. If you want to know more, we invite you to use the translation app Talkao Translate where you will find a large selection of proverbs, riddles and famous phrases in spanish and many other languages thanks to its smart books. Download it in GooglePlay or Appstore.

4.7/5 - (4 votes)

Category:

Learn languages

Tags:

Published Tue, 25 July 2023

Nagore Valera

Imagine writing a text and then being able to use artificial intelligence to create your voice, or anyone else’s voice, from that text.
At first glance, this functionality may not seem very relevant, but it opens up a wide range of possibilities in areas such as translation or advertising.

Below, we explain the benefits of using artificial intelligence to create voices and other aspects to consider when using this technology.

Generative voice tools facilitate the creation of multilingual content and the expansion of international business.

Advantages of creating voice with artificial intelligence

When we use artificial intelligence to generate voices, we can improve the user experience by personalizing your content.

For example, in the area of translation, we can customize real-time translation so that users can hear their real (or at least more human) voices instead of the boring automated voice so typical of GPS.

Another possibility that opens up is that of writing a text for a lecture or publishing new content on social networks and generating a voice with artificial intelligence from a text file, being able to use it in the form of a podcast and even the possibility of translating it beforehand thanks to translation applications and generating the voice in other languages. As you can see, the possibilities for using and creating voice digitally are limitless.

AI-powered generative voice tools provide voices in different languages and accents, making it easier to create content in multiple languages and expand your business internationally.

Other benefits of creating voice with artificial intelligence

Save time and resources: AI voice generation enables the creation of high-quality audio content in a short amount of time, without the need to hire voice talent or record voiceovers in a studio.
Customization: Imagine being able to adjust the pitch, speed, or style of a voice to suit your needs. With this technology, you can.
Provide greater accessibility: AI speech generation will help make content accessible to the visually impaired, allowing them to listen rather than read.

Things to consider when creating voices with artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence is not all roses. While this technology offers opportunities that were unimaginable until recently, we must be responsible in how we use it.

A clear example of this is the AI-generated voice model provided by Meta: Voicebox. A model that seems to be able to create voices without any special training.

According to Meta, all we need is a small audio sample of our voice and the written text we want to convert to voice, and the model will generate the sentence read with the voice of the audio clip.

These artificial intelligence tools offer very beneficial use cases, but we must also be aware of the abuse that can be made of them, such as creating identity theft through deepfakes.

Meta knows this and has made the decision not to release Voicebox as an open source tool, unlike what they did with LLaMA, they prefer not to make it available to the public because of the bad uses.

Artificial intelligence in translation

At Talkao, we are constantly exploring the possibilities that Artificial Intelligence can bring to the world of translation and communication. We have been testing AI models, verifying their reliability and analyzing their implementation in our translation apps to take the experience to a new level.

We want to use AI, as in Meta, in an appropriate and responsible way, without harming society or any sector, and always within the law.

4.9/5 - (7 votes)

Category:

News

Tags:

Published Fri, 21 July 2023

Nagore Valera

Did you know that speaking Spanish is no longer enough? This is especially true when you need to negotiate with colleagues or business partners from other countries. That’s when you need that extra edge, that mastery of Spanish negotiation phrases that will make you stand out.

In this article, to make you look like a native speaker in your next Spanish negotiation, I will share with you 10 of these expressions, arranged according to the stage of the negotiation you are in.

Spanish expressions to negotiate

1. Preparation

“Romper el hielo”

Meaning: Initiate a conversation in a relaxed atmosphere.

in English: Break the ice.

Example of use: “Rompamos el hielo con un cafe antes de empezar a hablar de negocios.”

Translation: “Let’s break the ice with a cup of coffee before we start talking business.”

Cómo y cuándo usarla: When you are at the beginning of a meeting and want to lighten the mood, don’t hesitate to use this expression. It is a great way to start off on a friendly and constructive note.

“Ver el bosque y no solo los árboles”

Meaning: See beyond the immediate details and understand the larger context.

In english: The bigger picture.

Example of use: “Antes de entrar en detalles, demos un paso atrás y veamos el bosque no solo los árboles.”

Translation: “Before we get into the nitty-gritty, let’s take a step back and look at the bigger picture.”

How and when use it: This expression is useful when you want the team to look beyond the details and understand the big picture. It helps everyone to consider all the variables at play.

“Guardarse los ases en la manga”

Meaning: Don’t reveal your plans or strategies right away.

In english: Keep your cards close to your chest.

Example of use: “En esta fase de las negociaciones, es mejor que nos guardemos los ases en la manga.”

Translation: “In this stage of negotiations, it’s better we keep our cards close to our chest.”

How and when use it: This is the perfect expression for those moments when you want to remind your team that it is best not to reveal all your plans at the outset. Strategy is essential in negotiations and knowing when to reveal your intentions can make the difference between winning and losing.

2. Negotiation

“Andarse por las ramas”

Meaning: Avoid talking directly about a specific issue.

In english: Beat around the bush.

Example of use: “No nos andemos por las ramas y hablemos directamente sobre los términos del acuerdo.”

Translation: “Let’s not beat around the bush and talk directly about the terms of the agreement.”

How and when use it: If you notice that the other party is avoiding engaging on a specific point or is distracting from the discussion, use this expression to return to the main topic.

“Ir al grano”

Meaning: Focusing on the most important details of an issue.

In english: Get down to brass tacks.

Example of use: “Ahora que todos estamos de acuerdo en los puntos principales, vayamos al grano.”

Translation: “Now that we all agree on the main points, let’s get down to brass tacks.”

How and when use it: This expression is useful when a general consensus has been reached and it is time to go into details and specifications. It helps to maintain focus and make sure everyone is on the same page.

“Dar y recibir”

Meaning: A process of compromise where both sides make concessions.

In english: Give and take.

Example of use: “La negociación se trata de dar y recibir. Necesitamos estar dispuestos a hacer algunas concesiones.”

Translation: “Negotiation is all about give and take. We need to be willing to make some concessions.”

How and when use it: This phrase is a perfect reminder that negotiation implies flexibility and a willingness to compromise in order to reach an agreement.

3. Closure

Spanish expressions to negotiate - Closure

“La pelota está en tu tejado”

Meaning: It is the other party’s turn to make a decision or move.

In english: Ball is in your court.

Example of use: “Hemos hecho nuestra oferta, ahora la pelota está en tu tejado.”

Translation: “We’ve made our offer, now the ball is in your court.”

How and when use it: Use this expression when you have made a proposal and are waiting for an answer or a counter-proposal.

“Cerrar el trato”

Meaning: Conclude or confirm an agreement.

In english: Seal the deal.

Example of use: “Estamos contentos con los términos, cerremos el trato.”

Translation: “We’re happy with the terms, let’s seal the deal.”

How and when use it: This expression is used when consensus has been reached and it is time to confirm the agreement and conclude the negotiation.

“Cortar por lo sano”

Meaning: To stop trying, to withdraw from a situation before further loss or damage occurs.

In english: Cut one’s losses.

Example of use: “Este acuerdo no está saliendo como esperábamos. Puede que sea hora de cortar por lo sano.”

Translation: “This deal isn’t going as planned. It might be time to cut our losses.”

How and when use it: Use this expression when you realise that a situation is not favourable and it is better to withdraw before further damage occurs.

“Todos ganamos”

Meaning: A win-win situation for all parties involved.

In english: Win-win situation.

Example of use: “Si ambos hacemos estas concesiones, nos encontraremos en una situación en la que todos ganamos.”

Translation: “If we both make these concessions, we’ll find ourselves in a win-win situation.”

How and when use it: Use this expression when you want to describe a win-win situation. It is the ideal goal of any negotiation.

In short

In short, mastering these spanish expressions to negotiate can be a real asset in the business world. From “breaking the ice“Romper el hielo” to “Cerrar el trato”, each stage of negotiation has its own set of phrases that will help you communicate effectively and confidently.

Did you like these spanish expressions to negotiate? We’d love to hear from you! Share your experience in the comments and don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss our next article.

Remember !!!

You can download our translation apps to learn languages and travel easily : available for free on Googleplay and Applestore.

Don’t hesitate to visit our Talkao website and contact us with any questions or problems you may have; and of course, take a look at any of our blog articles.

4.7/5 - (4 votes)

Category:

Learn languages

Tags:

Published Wed, 19 July 2023

Nagore Valera

Author Archives: Nagore Valera

Apps to organize travels

Maps.me

Splitwise

Talkao Translate

Growpro

XE

PackKing

Translating text with augmented reality

Text translator with the camera

Translating an object by recognition

Things to consider when translating spanish sayings and proverbs

Spanish sayings and proverbs

Más vale pájaro en mano (que ciento volando)

No te la juegues todo a una carta

No cantes victoria

Como quien oye llover

Cuando el río suena agua lleva

Las apariencias engañan

No tires piedras sobre tu propio tejado

Advantages of creating voice with artificial intelligence

Other benefits of creating voice with artificial intelligence

Things to consider when creating voices with artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence in translation

Spanish expressions to negotiate

1. Preparation

“Romper el hielo”

“Ver el bosque y no solo los árboles”

“Guardarse los ases en la manga”

2. Negotiation

“Andarse por las ramas”

“Ir al grano”

“Dar y recibir”

3. Closure

“La pelota está en tu tejado”

“Cerrar el trato”

“Cortar por lo sano”

“Todos ganamos”

In short

Remember !!!

Search

Most views

Tags

Categories

Newsletter