Learn about Speech Translation

Important:

  • Currently, speech translation is only available on computers. Participants who join through mobile or Meet hardware can't use this feature.
  • This feature can only be enabled by Google AI Pro subscribers and those who are part of the Enterprise Alpha program. Once it's enabled, everyone in the meeting with access to the feature can use it.
    • This feature doesn't work for participants with a school or work account unless they're part of the Enterprise Alpha program.
  • Speech Translation is a beta feature that is under development and not available to all users, so quality may vary. Translations will be a few seconds delayed for completeness.
  • No audio is saved. No models are trained on your voice. Learn more about Google Meet Security & Privacy for users and our Terms of Service.

Use Speech Translation to communicate with anyone in your meeting, even if you speak a different language. As you talk, Speech Translation automatically translates your speech in real-time, in a voice like yours. Translation is available between English and:

  • French
  • German
  • Italian
  • Portuguese
  • Spanish

Tip: Translation quality and availability improves continuously. Come back later to check if it works better for you.

Learn how to use Speech Translation

Part 1: A Google AI Pro Subscriber enables Speech Translation

Enable speech translation demonstration

  1. In a Google Meet meeting, at the bottom right, click Meeting tools Meeting tools icon and then Speech translation.
  2. Select the language combination that you want to configure for everyone in the meeting.
  3. Click Enable translation for everyone.
    • To show that this feature has been enabled, all participants will have the Speech translation badge Speech translation badge on the top right of their screen.

Part 2: All meeting participants allow and configure their Speech Translation settings

Configure Speech Translation demonstration

  1. Click the Speech translation badge Speech translation badge on the top corner of the screen.
    • Google AI Pro Subscribers have the option to navigate to Meeting tools Meeting tools icon and then Speech translation.
  2. Select from the drop down menus: Language you speak and Language you prefer to hear.

    • To get the best experience with speech translation:

      • Use the same language for your settings.

        • For example: If you speak in English, set both "Language you speak" and "Language you prefer to hear" to English.

      • Your language settings must not be the same as another participant's.

        • For example: If your language settings are in English, the other participant’s language settings must be in Spanish.

    • The language options are predetermined by the combination set by the Google AI Pro Subscriber.

  3. If you didn't update the Language you speak setting, you will need to allow translation. Under the language drop down, click Allow translation and then Translate me.
    • When you first use Speech Translation, you need to allow your voice to be translated for others to hear.
    • You can revoke permission to be translated at any time. To revoke permission, select Don't translate me from the Language you speak dropdown.

Part 3: Stop and change the language combination for a meeting as a Google AI Pro Subscriber

  1. To stop speech translation for everyone, click Meeting tools Meeting tools icon and then Turn off translation for everyone.

    • Or, at the top right, click the Speech translation badge Speech translation badge and then Settings and then Turn off translation for everyone.

  2. To switch to a different pair of languages, next to the current language combination, click the Down arrow.

    • Select a different language combination.
  3. Click Enable translation for everyone.

Learn what to expect from Speech Translation

Translations created in real time have more errors than translations from a recording or text. Errors you may encounter:

  • Grammatical or translation errors may occur.
  • Some words may be unintelligible.
  • Translated speech may have unexpected accents.
  • The gender of nouns may be incorrect.
  • Translated voice style may change, especially if different people speak during the meeting.
  • Translation quality may vary due to poor network connectivity.

Learn how to get the best translation

  • Wait for the translation symbol at the top of the speaker's tile to disappear before you respond in the meeting.
  • Rephrase your message if it's unclear or if you suspect translation issues.
  • For the best translation quality, make sure your network performance is as good as possible. Learn more.
  • Combine Speech translation with other tools.
    • Use captions with translations as a supplementary translation.
    • Use the meeting chat to communicate without speech.

Troubleshooting Speech Translation

Here are some reasons why you may not hear a participant translated:

  • They didn't agree to have their voice be translated in the meeting. To opt-in, participants can navigate to the Speech translation badge Speech translation badge and select Allow Translation.
  • They might be located in a region where the feature is unavailable.
  • They are on an unsupported device, like a phone. Only web browsers are currently supported.
  • They're under the age of 18.
  • They use an administrated account, such as an account for their school or workplace, and aren't part of the Enterprise Alpha program.

Provide feedback on your experience to help us improve.

  1. Click the Speech translation badge Speech translation badge on the top corner of the screen.
  2. Next to How's your experience with speech translation?,select thumbs up Thumbs up or thumbs down Thumbs down.