Google Translate Expansion Adds 110 Languages, Focuses on African Diversity

Google has announced a significant expansion of its Google Translate service, adding 110 new languages to the platform.

This update is part of Google’s 1,000 Languages Initiative, which aims to support the 1,000 most spoken languages worldwide using AI models. Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade, Communications and Public Affairs Manager for West Africa at Google, emphasized the importance of breaking down language barriers and fostering communication across diverse cultures.

With this expansion, Google Translate now supports over 614 million speakers worldwide, covering around 8% of the world’s population.

The new inclusions include eight languages from Africa, joining existing supported languages such as Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba, Fulani, Kanuri, and Tiv. Kola-Ogunlade highlighted Google’s commitment to supporting underrepresented languages and amplifying voices from across the continent.

“Our approach has been to prioritise the most commonly used varieties of each language,” Kola-Ogunlade explained. He noted that many languages do not have a single standard form, making it more feasible to focus on the most spoken dialects in each area.

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The expanded language list includes Kikongo, Luo, Swati, Venda, Fon, Wolof, and Ndebele, among others. This update opens up new opportunities for over half a billion people to connect and communicate, with a focus on Africa’s rich linguistic diversity.

“Africa, with its rich linguistic diversity, is a key focus of this expansion,” Kola-Ogunlade said. “With the addition of these 110 new languages, including many from Africa, we’re opening up new opportunities for over half a billion people to connect and communicate.”