Hack of the day: Translate foreign-language emails inside Gmail

'The Times of India' brings you 'Hack of the Day'—a new weekday series of quick, practical solutions to everyday hassles. Each hack is designed to save you time, money or stress, using tools and features within your reach—from government websites to everyday apps. In simple terms, it's simple fixes for smarter living.'In today’s connected world, your inbox often becomes a gateway to global communication. From booking confirmations sent by overseas airlines, to client emails written in another language, to admission notices from foreign universities — important messages don’t always arrive in English. Copy-pasting text into a separate translation app is clunky and time-consuming, especially when you need to quickly check dates, amounts, or instructions. Gmail’s built-in translation feature solves this problem elegantly, letting you translate entire emails instantly inside the app. This makes it easier to stay on top of travel plans, business communication, and support replies without breaking your workflow.* Travel confirmations: Quickly check flight times or hotel bookings.* Client emails: Understand international business communication.* Admission messages: Read details from foreign universities.* Support replies: Follow troubleshooting steps from global companies.* Government or legal notices: Stay informed about official updates.1. Open the email in Gmail.2. Look for the translation banner at the top of the message.3. Tap Translate if the option appears.4. Use the More options menu if you need to trigger translation manually.5. Carefully check dates, amounts, names, and legal terms before acting.Machine translation is powerful for quick understanding, but it’s not perfect. Do not rely on it blindly for legal, visa, medical, or financial commitments. Always double-check critical details in the original language or consult a professional if needed.