Language Identifier – Identify Any Language by Photo
Found writing you can't read? Upload a photo to identify the likely language or script from its characters.
Upload Your Image
Drag and drop your image here, or click to browse
Supports JPG, PNG, HEIC formats up to 10MB. Your images are processed securely and not stored.
How to Identify a Language
Three quick steps to an instant, AI-powered identification.
Photograph the writing so the characters are sharp and level — a clear line or two of text is enough to work with.
Our AI reads the characters and diacritics, comparing them against the world's writing systems to find the likely script and language.
Receive the most likely language and its writing system, plus related languages that share the same script.
Other Ways to Identify a Language
Spot the Script
Recognizing the alphabet — Latin, Cyrillic, Arabic, Chinese, Devanagari — is the first step, then diacritics narrow the specific language.
Distinctive Letters
Unique characters (like ñ, ç, ß, or ğ) often pin a language within a shared script.
Translation Tools
Once you know the script, camera-translation apps can read and translate the actual text.
Photo Quality
- ✓Get the text sharp, level, and well-lit.
- ✓Include a full line or two, not single letters.
- ✓Avoid glare on screens, signs, or glossy paper.
- ✓Fill the frame with the writing.
Best Practices
- •Capture accents and marks above or below letters.
- •Include punctuation and spacing, which give clues.
- •Photograph printed text where possible — clearer than handwriting.
- •Note where you saw it for extra context.
Scripts & Languages Our AI Recognizes
Our AI recognizes a wide range of types — here are some of the most common.
The alphabet used across much of the world.
The script of Russian and neighboring languages.
Chinese, Japanese, and Korean writing.
Scripts written right to left.
The scripts of South Asia.
Additional writing systems worldwide.
Why Choose IdentifyThis?
Fast, detailed, private, and affordable — for this and every other identifier.
IdentifyThis works entirely in your browser on any device — phone, tablet, or desktop. No installs, no clutter, just instant results.
You don't just get a name. Our AI explains the key features, common look-alikes, and what to do next, so you actually understand what you're looking at.
Your subscription unlocks plants, animals, insects, rocks, and dozens of other identifiers — not just this one. One affordable tool for every curiosity.
Your uploaded photos are processed for identification and are not stored or sold. What you photograph stays yours.
Your first identification is free, then unlimited access is just $6.99/year — a fraction of what single-purpose apps charge.
Because it's web-based, IdentifyThis runs the same on iPhone, Android, Windows, and Mac. Open your browser and go.
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