To provide a phrase converter having the function of converting the phrases of a translator who converts words in multi-language for automatically and quickly retrieving a phrase suitable for practical use which is the closest to the desired phrase, even when a desired phrase is not recorded with respect to a word inputted by a user which is to be a keyword.

This phrase converter is provided with a keyword retrieval means which stores phrase data of a plurality of types of languages and retrieves a phrase including words in the first language for converting the phrase into that of another language. This phrase converter is provided with a means equipped with the significance information of words used for the phrase and has a means of deciding the priority order of phrases to be retrieved by the keyword retrieving means in accordance with the significance information of the words.