Linguee Review
A free online bilingual dictionary and translation search engine that pairs word lookups with real example sentences.
Is Linguee Worth It?
Linguee is worth it for language learners, translators, and editors who need translations shown in real context. It returns editor-reviewed dictionary entries beside millions of bilingual example sentences and stays completely free across the web and the mobile app. Users who need full-paragraph translation should reach for DeepL Translator from the same company instead.
About Linguee
Linguee is a free online bilingual dictionary and translation search engine that pairs word lookups with real example sentences. DeepL SE, the Cologne, Germany company formerly named Linguee GmbH, operates Linguee. Gereon Frahling and Leonard Fink developed Linguee, and the public web service launched in April 2009. Linguee serves language learners, professional translators, and bilingual editors across many language pairs.
Linguee combines two reference tools in one interface. The bilingual dictionary returns word and phrase translations from professional lexicographers. The contextual search engine pairs each lookup with translated sentence examples drawn from bilingual texts. Linguee sources these sentence pairs from company websites, EU documents, and other published bilingual material.
Linguee covers more than 25 languages in bidirectional pairs such as English German and Spanish English. Linguee runs on the web, as a free mobile app, and through a browser extension. Linguee is completely free, and DeepL SE offers the separate DeepL Translator and DeepL API for full-text machine translation.
Is Linguee safe, private & secure?
Linguee is safe and legitimate, operated by DeepL SE, an established translation company based in Cologne, Germany. Linguee runs over an encrypted HTTPS connection, and DeepL SE publishes a documented privacy policy that governs Linguee data.
DeepL SE corporate background and legitimacy
Linguee operates under DeepL SE, the company established in Cologne in December 2008. DeepL SE was formerly named Linguee GmbH and later DeepL GmbH. Gereon Frahling and Leonard Fink founded the original Linguee service. DeepL SE became one of the largest independent translation companies in Europe.
✅ Worth it if you
- Translate single words and short phrases
- Need translations shown in real, published context
- Want a completely free dictionary and mobile app
- Need an offline dictionary for travel and study
🤔 Look elsewhere if you
- Need full-paragraph machine translation
- Want long-form text output
- Need more languages than Linguee covers
Our Verdict
Pros
- Completely free dictionary and app
- Real bilingual example sentences
- Offline language packs in the app
- Editor-reviewed dictionary entries
- Browser extension for quick lookups
Cons
- No full-text paragraph translation
- Advertising on the free service
- External examples vary in reliability
- Fewer languages than DeepL Translator
- DeepL needed for machine translation
How It Works
Open Linguee
Visit linguee.com in a browser or install the free mobile app.
Pick a pair
Select the language pair, such as English German or Spanish English.
Search a term
Type a word or short phrase into the search box.
Read the entry
Read the dictionary entry at the top of the results.
Scroll for context
Scroll to the contextual sentence examples below the entry.
Check sources
Check the source label on each external example sentence.
Go offline
Download a language pack in the app for offline lookups.
Linguee Features
Bilingual Dictionary
Returns editor-reviewed word and phrase translations.
Contextual Sentence Search
Shows real bilingual example sentences for a term.
Audio Pronunciation
Plays spoken pronunciation for dictionary entries.
External Source Examples
Surfaces aligned translations from bilingual web texts.
Mobile App
Runs the dictionary on iOS and Android with offline mode.
Offline Dictionary
Downloads language packs for searches without a connection.
Browser Extension
Looks up words on any web page in the browser.
DeepL Integration
Links to DeepL Translator for full-text machine translation.
Linguee Pricing
- Offline dictionary on iOS and Android
- Downloadable language packs
- Saves recent searches
- Unlimited translation
- DeepL API access
- Per user per month
Who Is Linguee Best For?
Check vocabulary in real context, confirm word meaning, see each term inside a published example, and use audio pronunciation to say new words correctly.
Confirm technical terminology against published sources, check word usage in the sentence database, and speed terminology checks during a translation project.
Verify scientific and technical terms, match field-specific usage through contextual sentences, and choose precise terms across many specialized language pairs.
Linguee Alternatives
| Tool | Best for | Price | Notes | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeepL | Full-text machine translation | from $8.74/mo | Free tier available | vs → |
| Reverso Context | Contextual example sentences | from $4.61/mo | Free tier available | vs → |
| WordReference | Forum-backed dictionary answers | Free web app | Free tier available | vs → |
| Linguee — this review | Contextual bilingual dictionary | Free | Free tier available |
Linguee vs DeepL
DeepL translates full paragraphs with machine translation, while Linguee returns dictionary entries with example sentences. DeepL SE operates both products from Cologne, Germany. Linguee suits single-word and phrase lookups, and DeepL suits long-form text starting from $8.74 per month. Linguee stays free and links out to DeepL for full-text jobs.
Linguee FAQ
Is Linguee free?
Linguee is completely free for every dictionary lookup and contextual sentence search. The web platform and the mobile app carry no subscription and fund the service through advertising. DeepL SE offers paid full-text translation under the separate DeepL brand.
Does Linguee have an app?
Linguee offers a free mobile app for Apple iOS and Google Android. The app loads the full bilingual dictionary and the contextual sentence search. The app adds an offline mode through downloadable language packs.
Can you use Linguee offline?
Linguee works offline after a user downloads language packs inside the free app. The downloaded dictionaries run lookups without a cellular or Wi-Fi connection. The offline mode covers dictionary search and saved example sentences.
Who owns Linguee?
DeepL SE owns and operates Linguee from Cologne, Germany. Gereon Frahling and Leonard Fink founded the original service, launched in April 2009. DeepL SE was formerly named Linguee GmbH before its focus shifted to DeepL Translator.
Is Linguee accurate?
Linguee is accurate for dictionary entries compiled by professional lexicographers and paired with real bilingual sentences. The editorial team reviews the core dictionary content. The external web examples carry source labels and require reader discretion.
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