# Tono Translate — The translator that teaches > Context-aware language translator with formality explanations and practice features. (iPhone/iPad app by Howard Daein Kim.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tono-translate/id6792506542 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Howard Daein Kim](https://appshunter.io/developer/1893714435) - Category: Reference, Education - Price: Free with in-app purchases - Rating: 3.70/5 from 3 App Store ratings · 1 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 18.0 · 39 MB - Languages: American English, French (France), German (Germany), Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Brazilian Portuguese, Chinese (Simplified, China), European Spanish, Thai and 2 more - Released: 2026-08-28 - Data updated: 2026-10-29 - Monetization: freemium - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tono-translate/id6792506542/reviews.md ## What is Tono Translate? Tono Translate is the translator that teaches. It gives you the translation that fits your situation, explains it plainly, then turns what you looked up into short spoken practice so it stays with you. Look it up once. Know it for good. WHAT YOU GET Translation that gets the context right Tono Translate is a context-aware translator. Type what you want to say and add the situation: who it's for, where you are, what's going on. The same words can mean different things in different situations, and a translator that doesn't know the situation has to guess. Tono Translate uses what you tell it to give you the translation that fits, then explains what it means and why, with other ways to say it and how to pronounce each one. Even the level of formality is named in the language's own terms, like 해요체, 敬語, usted or Sie. It's built for people learning a language, so you understand the answer instead of just copying it. Talk and Show Mode, with the context too Just talk: Tono Translate hears both languages and translates each line as it's spoken. Say who you're talking to and your lines come out at the right level of formality for them; each reply is read in light of what you just said. Show Mode puts your line full screen for the person in front of you, then listens to their reply. Phrasebooks and scripts for what's coming up A first trip, a new job, meeting the family: tell Tono Translate the situation and it writes a phrasebook of short lessons in the order things happen, each phrase taught out loud with what you'll likely hear back. Or get a script for one exchange, like the pharmacy: what to say, what you'll hear, and an answer for each. Practice that teaches before it tests New phrases are said to you word by word, and you say them back. From the next day you recall them from memory. The phrases you look up come back the same way, a few minutes at a time, offline too. Your weekly lesson Once a week, Tono Translate reads what you looked up and writes you a short lesson: your week, its phrase, a quick practice, and one phrase to use for real. Understand what they wrote Paste a message you can't read. Tono Translate decodes slang, internet shorthand and typos, and explains the level of formality the writer chose. Polish: correct what you wrote in the language you're learning Paste your own sentence, say who it's for, and get it corrected (spelling, grammar and formality) with a short reason for each change in your own language. Every correction comes back as practice. Point the camera Menus, signs, labels, screenshots: read item by item, with the context a local would never think to explain. Works offline No signal? Translation runs on your device, unlimited and free. (On-device answers are words only, without the explanations.) THIRTEEN LANGUAGES, ANY DIRECTION English, Korean, Japanese, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Cantonese, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, French, German, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Thai. Korean is where Tono Translate goes deepest. Every explanation arrives in your own language, and the app itself speaks all thirteen. FREE AND PRO Free: 2 full translations to try, the first lesson of a phrasebook, unlimited offline translation, and 10 minutes a month of live listening (up to 5 hours with Pro). Tono Translate Pro: unlimited translations, phrasebooks, practice, the weekly lesson, scripts and photo reading, with a 7-day free trial, then a monthly or yearly subscription. Prices are shown in the app for your region. Subscriptions renew automatically until cancelled in your App Store settings. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://tonotranslate.com/privacy.html ## Key features - Context-aware translations with formality levels - Explanations of cultural nuances - Correction of user-written sentences - Personalized recall drills for practice - Live conversation translation - Camera-based text translation - Offline translation capabilities ## Pricing and in-app purchases Base price: Free. **Subscriptions** | Subscription | Price | Period | | --- | --- | --- | | Tono Translate Pro Monthly | $5.99 | per month | | Tono Translate Pro Annual | $29.99 | per year | ## Is Tono Translate safe? Not enough ratings yet to assess Tono Translate. ## Is Tono Translate legit? Tono Translate has limited verification signals. The AppsHunter Legitimacy Score for Tono Translate is 58 out of 100 points across 7 verification signals from App Store and developer data. ## Recent user reviews (1 of 1) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tono-translate/id6792506542/reviews.md ### 5/5 — A must have!!! *2026-09-14* I absolutely love this translation app! What makes it stand out from other translation apps is that it doesn’t just translate the words—it takes into account who you’re talking to. The translations feel much more natural and appropriate for the situation, rather than sounding like a literal, word-for-word translation. It’s been especially helpful when I want to make sure I’m being respectful without sounding overly formal or awkward. If you’re learning Korean, traveling to Korea, or communicating with Korean speakers, I highly recommend this app. The ability to adjust the translation based on your audience is such a smart and useful feature! **Developer response:** Thank you so much, this made our day! You've described exactly why we built Tono Translate: the right words depend on who you're talking to, and sounding respectful without sounding stiff is one of the hardest parts of Korean. A tip if you haven't tried it yet: tap "Add someone" to save the people you talk to most, and each person's relationship will be ready for your next translation. And if you're learning, the Practice tab brings back the phrases you've looked up so you can practice saying them from memory. If a translation ever feels off, we'd love to hear about it at hello@tonotranslate.com. — Tono Translate ## Frequently asked questions about Tono Translate ### What languages does Tono Translate support? Tono Translate supports thirteen languages, including English, Korean, Japanese, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Cantonese, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, French, German, Vietnamese, and Indonesian, in any direction. ### Can I use Tono Translate offline? Yes, Tono Translate works offline. On-device translations are available for words only, without the detailed explanations, and are unlimited and free. ### How does Tono Translate help with learning a language? Tono Translate helps users learn by providing explanations for formality levels, offering corrections with explanations for mistakes, and creating personalized recall drills from the user's own phrases. ### What are the subscription options for Tono Translate? Tono Translate offers 'Tono Pro Monthly' for $5.99 per month with a 7-day free trial, and 'Tono Pro Annual' for $49.99 per year with a 7-day free trial. ### Is Tono Translate suitable for live conversations? Yes, Tono Translate offers a free 'Talk, in person' mode for live conversations. It features a split-screen mode for two people using one phone, showing translations in real-time. ### Does Tono Translate have ads? No, Tono Translate does not contain advertisements. The core translation features are free, with an optional premium subscription for advanced features. ### What is the age rating for Tono Translate? Tono Translate has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for a wide range of users, including children and adults. ### How often is Tono Translate updated? The latest version of Tono Translate is 1.5, and it was last updated on September 24, 2026. This indicates a relatively recent update cycle. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 1.8 — 2026-10-26 Look it up once. Know it for good. Tono Translate turns everything you look up into practice, and now writes you a phrasebook for what's coming up. A phrasebook for what's coming up Tell Tono Translate the situation, a first trip, a new job or meeting the family, and it writes a phrasebook: short lessons in the order things happen, each phrase taught out loud, with what the other person might say back. Read and use it in Scripts; learn it in Practice. Part of Tono Translate Pro, with the first lesson free. New phrases, taught out loud Practice now has two parts. In “Learn”, each new phrase is said to you word by word and you say it back; from the next day, “Review” asks for it from memory. A soft chime when you get one right, and the script or its reading shown large, whichever you read better. Show Mode listens to both of you Tap “Start listening” in Show Mode: their reply appears translated, and what you say goes up on the screen for them. Part of Tono Translate Pro, with a few free minutes each month. A new weekly lesson It opens on your week and its phrase, starts the practice with one button, and ends with one phrase to use for real. Lessons at your level Starting from zero? Phrases begin with the real basics, and your speaking is judged more kindly. “Review” suggests moving up a level when you're remembering almost everything, or down when it's too much. Made for iPhone Duo Open, Tono Translate uses both pages; half open, the lessons and Show Mode split at the fold. Also new Settings is shorter, with Practice, voices and shortcuts one tap in. Plus small fixes throughout. ### 1.7.1 — 2026-10-19 Look it up once. Know it for good. Tono Translate finds the right words for the person you're talking to, then turns everything you look up into practice. Every level explains itself On an answer, tap any level to see why it fits that person, with a reading for every word it quotes. Asked before? Answered at once Look up something you've asked before and the answer comes straight from your History, instantly and even offline. Choose who it's for Edit the list of people you pick from, and when neither language is your own, choose whether a line is for someone or from them. Plus small fixes throughout. ### 1.7 — 2026-10-19 Look it up once. Know it for good. Tono Translate finds the right words for the person you're talking to, then turns everything you look up into practice. Talk answers as they pause The translation now starts to appear the moment the speaker pauses, and writes itself in as it arrives. Face-to-face mode works the same way. Their words in your ears Put your headphones in and turn on “Their words in your ears”: Talk reads what they say to you in your language, so you can listen without looking at the phone. “Your words out loud” plays your lines for them. Natural voices Listen and Show Mode now read in natural-sounding voices. Choose from four in Settings, or the iPhone voice, which works offline. Plus small fixes throughout. ### 1.6.3 — 2026-10-17 Look it up once. Know it for good. Tono Translate finds the right words for the person you're talking to, then turns everything you look up into practice. Talk hears both sides Tap Start listening and just talk. Tono Translate hears both languages as they're spoken and puts each line on its own side, translated as you go. Suggested replies are gone, so every line arrives sooner, and a speaker button turns playing your lines aloud on and off. Live listening is part of Tono Translate Pro, with a few minutes each month to try it. Face-to-face mode listens the same way, with one phone between you. More ways to say it Other ways to say it now starts with two more natural ways to say your sentence at the same level, each with its reading and how it differs. Faster in any app With Tono Translate as your default translation app, the answer starts to appear in about three seconds. Listen to either line, star it, or open it in Tono Translate. Plus small fixes throughout. ### 1.6.2 — 2026-10-12 Look it up once. Know it for good. Tono Translate finds the right words for the person you're talking to, then turns everything you look up into practice. The answer comes first After you translate, your phrase folds into one line at the top and the answer takes the screen, with the reason right under it. Tap the line to change anything. Photos open on the translated picture, then each line on its own. Change the level in one tap Switch between casual, polite and formal on the answer itself and watch the sentence change, with who each one suits. Translate in any app Make it your default translation app in Settings (iOS 18.4 or later), then select text anywhere and tap Translate. The answer opens right there. Talk, simpler One big button listens to the other person. Reply by voice or keyboard beside it, with the options in one menu. Your own phrases first Translate opens on today's practice and your latest lookups, Practice on Begin, and History on your list. Plus small fixes throughout. ## Apps similar to Tono Translate | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [AI Translator & Camera - Dilo](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ai-translator-and-camera-dilo/id6810809052) | — | Free | Reference | --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-10-29.*