We all know how the French like to keep things in their own language if at all possible. This is especially true when it comes to their menus. French people are rightly very proud of their cuisine, and don’t miss an opportunity to keep the dishes in their authentic dialect. Which makes for great atmosphere, but unless you’re linguistically adept, a lot of the time you may find yourself wondering what exactly you’re about to order. Well, never fear, help is on the way in the form of The Menu Says, a brand new incarnation of the ever-popular Le Menu Dit, and it’s out now for iOS.
Le Menu Dit translated English menus into French, and particularly catered for French tourists in the UK and the States, or indeed natives of both countries who found themselves bemused in their own French restaurants. The Menu Says, as you might’ve guessed from the title, goes the reverse, translating French to English. There are thousands upon thousands of British tourists who travel to France every year, so I reckon this straightforward, intuitive app might be a hit with them. Indeed, with the Euros currently in full swing, and a swath of fans descending on French cities, what better time to request a little help from The Menu Says?
The great thing about the app is that it works offline. You don’t have to be connected to the internet in any way, shape or form. You simply take a photo of the menu, crop it to your satisfaction, and hit ‘translate’; the English will magically appear in bold text right underneath the French. The app will give you three trials completely free before you buy (for a very reasonable $2.99, or a week’s rental at $0.99), so you can make sure you’re happy with the quality of the translation.
There’s loads of other great features too. The translations were done by professionals, not just a random machine, so you won’t be faced with the usual string of Google-translate gobbledygook. The interface is very simple to navigate and easy to apply; most importantly, it’s quick to use, so you won’t be left stammering in front of an impatient French waiter anytime soon. If you feel bemused or intimidated by French menus, then check out The Menu Says, and become an instant linguistic specialist in the field of cuisine.
Travel to the App Store and get aquatinted with The Menu Says today!
