Video chat app now supports Arabic translation

11:46 - 08 March 2016

For specifics, Microsoft says the app will support Modern Standard Arabic (Arabic is like Yoruba, there are many localized versions, but this one is like the Yoruba they teach in schools).

Skype is generally known as a video chat platform, but owners Microsoft want it to be much more to all people - a platform for all things chat, apparently.

The app gained the ability to translate your speech into selected other languages in 2013 so people who didn't speak the same language could still communicate. Today, Skype has officially rolled out support for the apps eight spoken language - Arabic.

Arabic joins seven other languages (English, Spanish, French, German, Chinese (Mandarin), Italian, and Portuguese [Brazilian]).

Technically speaking, you can translate your speech between any of the aforementioned languages but Microsoft recommends English and any other language as the best way the translator works.

As Skype's translator gets used more and more, it will get better but for now, the best bet is English to Arabic (or any of the other seven languages).

To use the feature, just turn on Skype translate in the Skype for Windows desktop app by clicking on the globe icon in a conversation and turning it on.

Unfortunately, Mac and mobile users are left out for now, but the text chat translation feature supports 50 languages so all hope is not lost.