Read English papers and stop only at the words you do not know
There are two common ways to read a paper in English when English is not your first language, and both cost something. Translate the whole paper, and you read fast but never learn the English terms, so you look them up again when you write. Translate word by word, and you do read the original, but one paper means a hundred look-ups.
Solaread takes the middle road. The original stays as it is, and only the words and terms you do not know get a translation after them.
Your eyes stay on the line
The translation sits right after the word, in the same line, not in a side panel. You never look away to read it and then hunt for where you were. That is deliberate: Solaread is designed for staying focused.
It is also quiet. A short gloss in parentheses, set into the text, there when you need it and easy to read past when you do not. It helps without pulling you out of the paper.
What reading a paper looks like
- Import the PDF. The paper is turned into readable text. Scanned pages are recognized too.
- Unknown words are already marked. The translation follows the word in parentheses. Words you know are not marked.
- A term is still unclear? Hover it. A popover explains the word in the context of the sentence, and closes when you move away.
- Missed a word? Double-click it. You can save it to your vocabulary book, and its gloss stays in place when you reread the passage.
- Take notes as you read. The notes panel sits beside the text, so a note and the passage it came from are on the same screen.
Matched to your field
After you sign up there is a vocabulary test of about 2 minutes: twenty words of general vocabulary. You can add field tests of eight words each: economics, finance, law, medicine, computer science. General and field vocabulary are measured separately, and the hints follow both.
Three ways to read, and when each fits
| Way of reading | Good for | The cost |
|---|---|---|
| Translate the whole paper | Getting the gist quickly | The English terms pass you by, and you cannot use them when you write or present |
| Look up word by word | Readers with very few unknown words | With many unknown words, one paper is a hundred look-ups |
| Only unknown words translated (Solaread) | Close reading, when you will write in English later | Slower than reading a full translation |
What it does not do
- No full-text translation. If you want a quick overview in your own language first, a translation tool is the better choice.
- It is not a reference manager, and it does not write AI summaries. This page covers its reading tools for the original text, word help and notes.
Questions
Can I read a scanned PDF?
Yes. Scanned pages are recognized as text.
Which language are the translations in?
The one you choose. English, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, French, German, Vietnamese, Spanish and Portuguese are one click away, and you can search for others in Settings.
Can I read papers in French or Spanish?
Yes. Books and papers can be in English, French, Spanish, German, Portuguese, Russian, Japanese or Chinese.
From reading to listening
This page covers Solaread’s reading feature. The web app also lets you import your audio and video, find podcasts, follow transcripts and look up unfamiliar words. Save vocabulary and review it in its original sentences. Recommendations and difficulty labels help you choose books, articles and videos.
An AI language teacher for discussing what you have read, heard or watched is coming soon and is not available yet. Use the web app for the latest listening features; the Mac download can differ.