CorviUnderstand official letters in a language you don't speak
Last updated: 2026-11-02
To understand an official letter in a language you don't speak, open it on your Mac (the e-mail, the PDF, or a scan of the paper letter) and tap Corvi's Fn key. Corvi tells you in 3–5 sentences, aloud and in your own language, what the letter is about and what it asks of you. Double-tap Fn to ask "Is there a deadline?" or "How much do I have to pay?".
The problem: the letters that matter most are in the language you know least
You moved for work, for study or for family. Daily life works in English or with a few phrases, but the tax office, the city hall, the health insurer, the landlord and your child's school write in the local language. Their letters are long, formal and full of words no phrasebook teaches. And they are exactly the ones you can't afford to misread: a payment request, an appointment, a document they need by a certain date.
What you want first is not a full translation. It is three answers: *what is this, what do they want from me, and by when?*
Ways to understand a foreign-language letter on a Mac
| Option | How | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Google Translate or DeepL | Paste the text or upload the document | Full translation to read; formal language often stays hard to follow |
| macOS Translate | Select text, Control-click, choose Translate; Safari can translate whole pages | Built in and free; translates, doesn't summarize, and you read it |
| A chatbot | Upload the PDF to ChatGPT or Claude and ask for a summary in your language | Works well; upload, prompt and read every time |
| A friend or colleague who speaks the language | Send a photo and ask | Often the best for tricky cases; you depend on someone's time |
| Corvi | Tap Fn while the letter is on screen | Spoken summary in your language, then questions by voice; not a translation or advice |
How to do it with Corvi
- Set your language once in Corvi's settings, for example English, Turkish, Hindi or Portuguese.
- Open the letter. An e-mail in Mail or a webmail tab, a PDF in Preview or your browser, a page on the authority's website.
- A PDF? Select all (Command-A), then tap Fn: Corvi summarizes the selected text. An e-mail? Point at it and tap Fn.
- Listen. You hear what the letter is about and what it asks you to do, in your language.
- Double-tap Fn and ask in your language: "Is there a deadline?", "What documents do they want?", "Who do I contact?", "What happens if I don't answer?". If the letter doesn't contain the answer, Corvi searches the web and names its source.
A paper letter? Scan it first, for example with your iPhone's camera into Notes or with Continuity Camera into Preview, and open the scan on your Mac. When there is no text to select, Corvi reads the text from a screenshot of the window, so a clear, straight scan works best.
Stop typing. Stop reading. Talk and listen.
Free to download, no card needed. Setup takes a minute; if you don't like it, drag it to the Trash.
Download free for MacExamples
| The letter | What you hear |
|---|---|
| A tax office letter in German | What it concerns, whether you owe or get money, and the date by which to act |
| A rental contract change in Dutch, by e-mail | What changes, from when, and whether you need to reply |
| A school newsletter in French | Which dates matter, what to bring, and who to tell if your child is absent |
| A health insurer's PDF in Spanish | What is covered, what you need to send, and how to send it |
| A residence permit appointment in Italian | Where, when, and which documents to bring |
What Corvi doesn't do
- It isn't legal, tax or immigration advice. It tells you what the letter says. For decisions, ask the authority, a lawyer or an advisor.
- It isn't a certified or word-for-word translation. When you need every sentence, or an official translation, use a translator.
- It makes mistakes sometimes. Summaries are made by AI. Before you pay, sign or miss a date, check the amount, the date and the reference number in the original letter.
- It needs the letter on your screen and an internet connection. Corvi reads only what is on screen, only when you press the key. Read privacy, in plain words before using it on very personal documents.
Replying
Need to answer? Hold Fn and speak to dictate your reply where the cursor is. Corvi types what you say in the language you speak it in; it doesn't translate your reply. If you write in the local language, have a translation tool check it.
Frequently asked questions
Which languages does it work with?
35, including German, Dutch, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Polish, Swedish, Turkish, Arabic, Hindi and English. Any of them can be the letter's language or yours.
Can it read a photo of a paper letter?
Yes, if the scan or photo is open on your Mac and the text is clear. Corvi reads text from a screenshot of the window when there's no text to select.
Will it tell me the deadline?
If the letter states one, ask "Is there a deadline?" and Corvi tells you. Always check the date in the original before you rely on it.
Is it free?
Corvi is free to download and use on the free plan, with no card needed.