Subtitles for International Audiences: Translation and Localisation

If your videos are reaching viewers around the world, subtitles in a single language are only part of the solution. Translation and localisation help you connect with audiences who speak different languages, and they open your content to a truly global reach. Here is how to use subtitle translation to expand your audience beyond borders.

Why translate your subtitles

Even if your content is in English, a significant portion of your potential audience may not be fluent enough to follow along without subtitles in their native language. Translating your subtitles makes your content accessible to viewers who speak Spanish, French, German, Japanese, or any other language. It also helps with search engine visibility on platforms that index subtitle text, since translated subtitles can match search queries in multiple languages.

How Subify handles translation

Subify includes translation to English on all paid plans. This means you can upload content in any spoken language and receive subtitles in English. This is useful for content creators who record in one language but want to reach English-speaking audiences, or for viewers who prefer to read along in English while listening to the original audio.

Localising content for different markets

Translation is more than just converting words from one language to another. Localisation takes cultural context into account, ensuring that references, idioms, and examples make sense to the target audience. While Subify focuses on accurate subtitle generation and translation, the resulting SRT and ASS files can be edited manually to add localised content. This gives you full control over how your message is presented to different audiences.

Multi-language subtitle workflows

Most major platforms support multiple subtitle tracks, allowing viewers to choose their preferred language. YouTube, for example, lets you upload separate SRT files for each language. You can generate an English subtitle file with Subify, then translate it manually or with a translation service, and upload both versions to your video. This approach lets you reach viewers in multiple languages without creating separate videos for each market.

Choosing the right format for translated subtitles

SRT files are the simplest option for translated subtitles. They are widely supported and easy to edit. If you need to preserve styling across translations, ASS files are available on paid plans. Our guide to SRT vs ASS formats explains the differences and when to use each.

Best practices for international subtitles

When translating subtitles, keep lines short and concise. Different languages have different word lengths, so a subtitle that fits comfortably in English may be too long in German or too short in Chinese. Aim for clarity over literal translation, and make sure speaker identification is clear. Our tips for improving subtitle accuracy cover these details.

Getting started

To create translated subtitles, upload your video to Subify and let automatic processing convert the spoken content to text. Download your SRT file and upload it to your platform of choice. The Free plan includes 10 minutes of processing per month, which is enough to subtitle a short video and test the workflow. For translation and full styling control, upgrade to a paid plan.

You can see all plans or start free today.