SayloeGuidesWant to translate a sentence on your Mac without opening another browser tab? Here are three ways to translate highlighted text using macOS, DeepL, or Sayloe.
You’re reading an email, browsing a website, or working on a document when you come across a sentence in another language.
You just want to know what it says.
The usual approach is to copy the text, open a translation website, paste it, read the result, and return to what you were doing.
It works. But when you do this dozens of times a day, all that switching gets annoying.
Fortunately, you can translate selected text directly on your Mac. There are a few ways to do it, depending on whether you prefer built-in macOS features or a keyboard shortcut.
Here are three options worth trying.
1. Translate Selected Text Using macOS
Your Mac already has a built-in translation feature, so you might not need to install anything.
Here’s how to use it:
- Highlight the text you want to translate in Safari, Notes, or another supported app.
- Right-click the selection (or Control-click).
- Choose Translate from the context menu.
- Select the source and target languages if needed.
- Read the translation in the pop-up window.
You can also copy the translated text. When you’re editing text in a supported app, macOS may offer Replace with Translation, which replaces the selected text directly.
When is Apple’s built-in translation enough?
For occasional translations, it’s a good starting point. There’s nothing extra to install, and it works with supported languages across several Mac apps.
Apple also supports downloading certain languages for on-device translation.
The main limitation is the workflow. You generally need to select the text and open a context menu each time. Translation availability also depends on the language and app you’re using.
If you translate text frequently, a keyboard shortcut may feel more convenient.
2. Translate Highlighted Text with DeepL for Mac
DeepL offers a desktop app that lets you translate selected text using a keyboard shortcut.
Once DeepL for Mac is installed and its shortcut is enabled:
- Select text in your browser, email, or document.
- Hold Command (⌘) and press C twice.
- DeepL displays the translation in a small window over your current app.
The default shortcut is ⌘ + C + C.
You can customize it in DeepL’s settings and choose whether translations appear in a small window or the main app.
What makes DeepL useful?
DeepL is a good choice if you already use its translation service and want quick access from other Mac apps.
Its desktop shortcut eliminates the need to manually open the DeepL website and paste text.
However, if you also want to dictate messages or speak in one language and write in another, you may prefer a tool that combines those workflows.
3. Translate Selected Text with Sayloe
Sayloe is a Mac translation and voice dictation app built around a simple idea: translation should be part of what you’re already doing, not another task that takes you away from it.
Its shortcut is slightly different from DeepL’s.
Instead of pressing Command+C twice, you double-tap the Command key (⌘⌘).
Here’s how selected-text translation works:
- Open Sayloe on your Mac.
- Highlight the text you want to translate.
- Double-tap Command (⌘⌘).
- View the translation in Sayloe’s pop-up interface.
You can use this workflow while reading or writing in compatible Mac apps, without manually opening a translation website.
One shortcut, two different workflows
There’s another reason I built Sayloe around this shortcut.
Sometimes you’re reading something and need a translation. Other times, you’re writing a reply and would rather speak than type.
Sayloe handles these situations differently depending on whether text is selected.
When text is selected: Double-tap Command to translate it.
When no text is selected: Double-tap Command to open the voice dictation interface.
You can speak, see your words transcribed, and choose whether to insert the original text or translate it into another language before inserting it.
For example, you can read an English email, translate a sentence you don’t understand, then speak your reply in Chinese and insert an English version into the email.
You don’t have to treat translation and voice input as two completely separate workflows.
A note about compatibility
Sayloe currently supports Apple Silicon Macs (M-series chips). It isn’t available for Intel-based Macs.
You can check your Mac by opening Apple menu → About This Mac and looking for the Chip information.
Which Mac Translation Method Should You Use?
All three methods let you translate selected text without the traditional copy-paste-and-switch-tabs routine.
The best option depends on how you work.
| Feature | macOS | DeepL for Mac | Sayloe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Translate selected text | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Quick access | Context menu | ⌘ + C + C | ⌘ ×2 |
| Requires another app | No | Yes | Yes |
| Translation pop-up | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Dictation and translated insertion in the same app | Not this workflow | Not this workflow | Yes |
| Apple Silicon required | Depends on macOS feature support | Check current requirements | Yes |
If you translate a sentence once in a while, Apple’s built-in feature may be all you need.
If you regularly translate text and already rely on DeepL, its Mac shortcut is worth trying.
If you switch between reading foreign-language text and writing replies in another language, Sayloe is designed to keep those tasks together.
A Practical Example: Reading and Replying to an Email
Imagine you work with customers in different countries.
You receive an English email with a question about delivery dates.
You understand most of it, but there’s one sentence you’re not sure about.
With Sayloe, you can highlight that sentence and double-tap Command to translate it.
Then, when you’re ready to reply, you can click the email composer and double-tap Command again—this time without selecting any text.
Speak your response in your native language, choose the translated version, and insert it into the reply.
It’s a small change to how you work, but it removes several repetitive steps.
And it’s not limited to email. The same approach can be useful when communicating through messaging apps or writing in other supported text fields.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I translate selected text on Mac without installing an app?
Yes. macOS includes a built-in Translate option for selected text in supported apps and languages. Highlight the text, Control-click, and choose Translate.
Is there a keyboard shortcut to translate text on Mac?
There isn’t one universal shortcut that works identically across every Mac app. DeepL for Mac provides a default ⌘ + C + C shortcut, while Sayloe uses a double-tap of the Command key (⌘⌘) for selected-text translation.
Can I translate text without copying and pasting it?
Yes. Apple’s built-in Translate feature, DeepL for Mac, and Sayloe can all translate selected text without requiring you to manually paste it into a browser-based translator.
Can I translate text directly in Gmail on Mac?
You can select text in Gmail and use a compatible desktop translation tool. Exact behavior may depend on the browser and the tool you’re using.
Does Sayloe work on Intel Macs?
No. Sayloe currently supports Macs with Apple Silicon (M-series chips).
Final Thoughts
Translating text on a Mac doesn’t have to involve opening another tab every time.
For occasional translations, start with the built-in macOS feature.
For frequent text translation, a desktop shortcut from DeepL or Sayloe can make the process easier.
And if you often read in one language but write in another, combining translation with voice dictation can be particularly useful.
That’s the workflow we’re building Sayloe around.
Try Sayloe for Mac: sayloe.com
Available for Apple Silicon Macs.