diff --git a/modules/translate.py b/modules/translate.py
index e11de291..3f31f224 100644
--- a/modules/translate.py
+++ b/modules/translate.py
@@ -10,19 +10,14 @@ REGEX_LANGUAGES = re.compile("(\w+)?:(\w+)? ")
 class Module(ModuleManager.BaseModule):
     @utils.hook("received.command.tr", alias_of="translate")
     @utils.hook("received.command.translate")
+    @utils.spec("!<phrase>lstring")
     def translate(self, event):
         """
         :help: Translate the provided phrase or the last line in thie current
             channel
         :usage: [phrase]
         """
-        phrase = event["args"]
-        if not phrase:
-            phrase = event["target"].buffer.get()
-            if phrase:
-                phrase = utils.irc.strip_font(phrase.message)
-        if not phrase:
-            raise utils.EventError("No phrase provided.")
+        phrase = event["spec"][0]
         source_language = "auto"
         target_language = "en"
 
diff --git a/src/core_modules/command_spec.py b/src/core_modules/command_spec.py
index d8ac84d4..ffcf77ed 100644
--- a/src/core_modules/command_spec.py
+++ b/src/core_modules/command_spec.py
@@ -88,6 +88,17 @@ class Module(ModuleManager.BaseModule):
                 if args:
                     value = server.get_user(args[0], create=True)
                 n = 1
+            elif argument_type.type == "lstring":
+                if args:
+                    value = " ".join(args)
+                    n = len(args)
+                else:
+                    last_message = (channel or user).buffer.get()
+                    if last_message:
+                        value = last_message.message
+                        n = 0
+                    else:
+                        n = 1
             elif argument_type.type == "channelonly":
                 if channel:
                     value = True