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Lingo Five-Language Talking Translator
The Lingo Five-Language Talking Translator is the more upscale alternative to carrying a dictionary to help you get around a country where the primary language is different from your own. There are many language translators out there and they run from a relatively inexpensive $25 up to $600 or more.
Not only are there a wide range of language translators but the opinions and customer reviews of language translators are all over the place. When I went in search of a language translator to review for this site I spent at least a half a day looking at all the different options. The one that I liked best is the Five Language Talking Translator by Lingo. One of the reasons is that it does not do too much. Who needs a 12 language translator? The Italian only translators are, in my opinion, too expensive running around $300.
I always remember my brother-in-law telling me that you should never buy a tool that strays too far from its primary purpose. In other words, don’t buy a translator that is also an MP3 Player.
The two biggest complaints that I saw about translators in general were that the cheaper models had a very limited number of words and therefore proved useless. The other complaint was that many had battery problems.
So, what are the advantages and disadvantages of a foreign language translator and the Five Language Talking Translator from Lingo?
Advantages:
• Size: With everyone trying to keep their luggage light carrying around one or more dictionaries and phrase books can add quite a bit of heft to your luggage. This is especially true if you plan to visit more than one country and therefore need more than one book.
• Fear: If you are afraid of speaking the language this is the easy way out
• Hearing Impaired: For people with hearing problems it can be particularly difficult to understand a foreign language. You can type in a phrase or word and show the translation to the person with whom you are trying to communicate.
Disadvantages:
• Expense: Lose a dictionary or phrase book you are out $10, lose a translator you are out $100 plus
• Not Wordy Enough: Not all words and phrases are going to be included, of course, not all words and phrases are in travel dictionaries and phrase books
• Complexity: Nothing is easier to use than a dictionary. You open the book, look up the word and you are done. With any gadget you have to learn how to use all the different options available to you. Of course there are many people who love this challenge, but I am not one of them.
Five-Language Talking Translator Product Specifications:
• Translates over 100,000 words and 11,500 phrases that equates to 20,000 words and 2,300 phrases per language
• Provides both oral and written translations
• Translates English, German, French, Spanish and Italian
• Includes currency and metric converter
• Gives the time in 200 cities
• Ear buds
• Uses 2 AAA batteries which are easy to find in Europe
• Has a metric converter
• Excellent instructions are included (you can view a copy of the product manual by clicking on the icon below)
• There is a databank that allows you to store appointments, telephone numbers and addresses so you have everything in one place. You can input your hotel and address and show that to a taxi driver.
• Clothes and shoe size converter
• It is small enough to fit in your pocket - Size: 4.7" x 3.9" x .75 In, weighs 6 ounces
• Easy to use QWERTY keyboard
• 4 Line x 22 Character Dot Matrix Display
Posted by Jackie on November 14, 2025
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