How it works
Talk with people around the world in a random video or text chat with speech translation and captions. No registration.
Talk with people around the world
Lingo is for conversations, sharing ideas and language practice. Choose your gender and language, then start. Participants are paired randomly, regardless of gender. Both people need to be online. Next starts a different conversation.
Translation, phrase by phrase
Your browser recognizes speech. Google Translate / MyMemory translates completed phrases, and your device reads them aloud. Text translation is limited by the free provider quota. Headphones help prevent echo. Browser speech services and Google Translate / MyMemory process speech or text; don't share sensitive information.
Voice recognition, spoken translations and text translation depend on the selected language, your browser and the translation service. If translation is unavailable, the original text remains visible.
Choose your conversation language
The interface language changes button labels. Under “I speak”, choose the language you will speak and type in: incoming messages are translated into that language. Each person chooses their own language. When both choices match, no additional translation is requested. Set your conversation language before starting: opening settings during a call ends the current conversation.
What a translation looks like
For example, you select English and your partner selects Spanish. On your side, a message might look like this:
- Spanish original
- Habla más despacio, por favor.
- English translation
- Please speak more slowly.
This is an illustration; the service may use different wording. Speak in short phrases and pause between them. Translated speech can be read aloud when voice translation is enabled and a suitable device voice is available. Typed messages are translated as text and are not read aloud.
Camera and microphone on your phone
Video chat needs permission for both the camera and microphone. After changing permissions, return to Lingo, reload the page and start again. “Continue with text” starts without access to either device.
Android, Chrome: ⋮ → Settings → Site settings → Camera or Microphone. Allow Lingo if it appears under Blocked. Also check Chrome’s app permissions on your phone.
iPhone: allow access when your browser asks. If you previously declined, review site permissions and your browser’s phone settings. Menu names depend on the browser and iOS version.
Text chat without a camera
Choose Continue with text to talk without a camera or microphone. Messages are translated when your conversation languages differ; the original is shown too. If translation is unavailable, you can still read the original message.
Your boundaries
Block ends the call and excludes this profile from future matches. Blocks are stored on the server for your browser profile. Clearing cookies or changing browser creates a different profile. Video is not recorded by Lingo.
Connection and access
The site is open to everyone. No registration or account is required: select your language and gender, then start. A conversation needs two people online. Direct video can fail on restricted networks. Speech recognition is best supported in desktop Chrome; otherwise use text.
If something does not work
I cannot hear my partner
Check your phone’s volume and your headphones. If a button with a play triangle appears over the video, tap it. Ask your partner to check that their microphone is on.
I hear speech but see no captions
Speech recognition is a separate browser feature. Check the selected language, keep the Lingo tab visible and try a short phrase. If recognition is unavailable, type messages in the connected chat.
Only the original message appears
Check whether your selected languages are different. A service error or usage limit can make translation unavailable; the original message stays in the chat. Ask your partner to rephrase anything unclear.
Searching or connecting does not finish
Matching needs another person who is also searching. If the connection fails, try another network and start again. Text mode also needs a connection between participants and does not remove every network restriction.