To translate audio to English, transcribe the recording in its original language, then translate the transcript. Upload tools such as Wave and HappyScribe run both steps in one upload: Wave translates up to 5 files a day for free, and the first 10 minutes on HappyScribe are free. Word transcribes up to 300 minutes of uploaded audio a month with a Microsoft 365 subscription.
If you have an audio file and want English text now, jump to the speech-to-text tools that translate. If you record in person or on the phone and want a transcript, a summary and a Word export before you translate, skip to Comu AI.
Four ways to translate audio to English at a glance
You can translate audio to English by transcribing it first, by uploading it to a tool that transcribes and translates, by translating the transcript text, or by using a live translator during a call or conversation.
| Route | Best for | What you need | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transcribe first, then translate | Interviews, calls and any recording you want to check | A transcript in the spoken language | A transcript you can read and correct before it becomes English |
| Speech-to-text tool that translates | One audio file you want in English now | An upload tool such as Wave or HappyScribe | English text, the original transcript and subtitle files |
| Translate the transcript text | A transcript from Word, Voice Memos, Recorder or Comu | Word, Google Translate or DeepL | A translated document or translated text |
| Phone or in person | Calls and face-to-face conversations | Live Translation on iPhone, Google Translate or DeepL Voice, or a recorder | Spoken or written translation as people talk, or a recording to translate later |
Routes one to three start from a recording you already have. Route four covers conversations you have not recorded yet.
How to translate audio to English: transcribe first, then translate
Transcribe the recording in its original language first, check that text, and then translate it.
Wave and HappyScribe both work in two steps. They turn the speech into text in the original language, then they translate that text. Wave keeps each translated line tied to its speaker and timestamp, and HappyScribe lets you review and edit the transcription before it translates. A misheard name or number in the transcript carries into the translation, so fix it once, before the translation step.
- Save the audio as MP3, WAV or M4A. Word accepts .wav, .mp4, .m4a and .mp3. HappyScribe accepts MP3, M4A and WAV. Wave accepts m4a, mp3, wav, mp4, webm and more.
- Transcribe in the language that is spoken. A Spanish recording gets a Spanish transcript, not an English one.
- Read the transcript against the audio. Check names, numbers and technical terms.
- Translate the text. Paste it into a translator, or upload it as a document.
- Compare the English with the original transcript. Keep both files together.
Four places can give you the original-language transcript:
- Word. Go to Home, Dictate, Transcribe, then choose Upload audio. A Microsoft 365 subscription covers up to 300 minutes of uploaded audio a month, and a Microsoft Copilot license covers up to 30,000. The feature runs in Word for Microsoft 365 on Windows in commercial tenants, and government tenants get it in Word for the web. Our guide to transcribing audio to text walks through the steps.
- Voice Memos on iPhone. An iPhone 12 or later transcribes English (all variants), Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese. The feature is offered in selected countries and regions. Our guide to transcribing voice memos on iPhone and Mac has the steps.
- Recorder on a Pixel. Recorder transcribes in the language you choose, for example French, German, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Russian or Spanish.
- An upload tool or Comu. Wave and HappyScribe transcribe in the spoken language before they translate, and Comu transcribes in 113 languages.
Translate audio to English with a speech-to-text tool
To translate an audio file to English with an upload tool, drop the file in, set the spoken language, choose English as the target, and download the result.
Translate audio file to English with Wave
Wave's free translate tool takes m4a, mp3, wav, mp4, webm and other audio or video files up to 200MB. You can translate up to 5 files a day with no account and no watermark. It understands 17 spoken languages: English, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Italian, Dutch, Polish, Turkish, Russian, Arabic, Hebrew, Hindi, Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Vietnamese. You can translate between any two of them.
- Upload the recording. Drag in an audio or video file.
- Pick the languages. Set the spoken language or let the tool detect it. English is preselected as the target.
- Read, copy or download. The translation opens first, speaker by speaker with timestamps. Switch to the original transcript or the AI summary, or download .txt, .srt or .vtt files.
Translate audio file to English with HappyScribe
HappyScribe imports an MP3, M4A or WAV file from your computer, Google Drive or Dropbox. The first 10 minutes are free with no file size limit. You select the spoken language or let the system detect it, choose the target language, and download the result as TXT, SRT or VTT. It labels different speakers in the audio, and you can edit the transcription before you translate it.
Use these tools for single files.
Translate voice recording text with Word, Google Translate or DeepL
Once you have a transcript, translate it by pasting the text into a translator or by uploading the transcript as a document to Word, Google Translate or DeepL.
Word. Open the transcript in Word, select Review, then Translate, then Translate Document. Pick the language and select Translate. A copy of the translated document opens in a separate window. Translate Selection handles a single passage. The feature is available to Microsoft 365 subscribers and needs an internet connection with Office connected experiences enabled. If you transcribed in Word, the Transcribe pane saves the full transcript as a Word document or inserts sections of it into a document, so the transcript and the translation stay in one program.
Google Translate. On a computer, open Google Translate, click Documents, choose the languages and click Browse your computer. Select the file, click Translate, then click Download translation. The Documents tab takes .docx, .pdf, .pptx and .xlsx files up to 10 MB, and PDFs up to 300 pages. Text inside images and scanned PDF pages is not translated, so use a Word file or a text PDF. Document translation needs a computer, because smaller screens and mobile do not support it. On an Android phone, copy and paste the text into the Translate app. In Google Docs, Tools, then Translate document opens a translated copy in a new window and saves it to Google Drive.
DeepL. DeepL file translation handles Word, PowerPoint and PDF files and keeps the format of the original file. It needs a DeepL account and works on the DeepL website and in the Mac and Windows apps. DeepL translates documents into 100+ languages. For a short transcript, paste the text into the translator instead of uploading a file.
Translate on iPhone. In the Translate app, tap Enter text, paste the transcript and choose the languages. Download a language to translate on the iPhone without an internet connection.
Translate voice memo and Recorder files on iPhone and Pixel
To translate a voice memo on iPhone, copy its transcript from Voice Memos and paste it into the Translate app. On a Pixel, share the Recorder transcript to Google Docs and translate the document.
iPhone: Voice Memos to Translate
- Open Voice Memos and tap the recording.
- Tap the More button and choose Copy Transcript.
- Open the Translate app and choose the languages.
- Tap Enter text, paste the transcript and tap Next.
The Voice Memos transcript needs an iPhone 12 or later, one of the ten supported languages, and a country or region where the feature is available. For a recording in another language, use an upload tool or Comu.
Pixel: Recorder to Google Docs
- Open Recorder and tap the recording.
- If the transcript is in the wrong language, tap More, then Transcribe again, and choose the language. Google states that re-transcribing may process audio files on Google servers.
- Tap More, then Share, then Share transcript to Google Docs, and pick the Google Account.
- In Google Docs, choose Tools, then Translate document, name the copy, select English and click Translate.
Share, then Transcript (.txt) saves the transcript as a text file when you want to paste it into another translator.
Translate audio to English on a phone call or in person
For a phone call or an in-person conversation, translate live with an app, or record the conversation and run the recording through the transcribe-then-translate route afterward.
Translate live on a call or in person
- iPhone phone calls. During a call, tap More, then Live Translation, choose the language and tap Start Translation. Both people are alerted that the call is being translated. The other person hears a spoken translation of what you say, and you can read an on-screen transcription. Live Translation needs Apple Intelligence and is offered in selected languages and regions. Apple states that Live Translation runs entirely on the device.
- iPhone in person. In the Translate app, tap Conversation to see chat bubbles with the translation of both sides, or switch to Face to Face so each person reads from their own side. Downloaded languages work without an internet connection.
- Google Translate. Click or tap the microphone, speak, and the words are translated. On a computer it works in Chrome, with limited support in Safari and Edge, and microphone translation does not detect the language for you. On Android, Transcribe translates in near real time while someone speaks a different language, such as a classroom lecture or speech.
- DeepL Voice. DeepL Voice translates speech in real time in virtual meetings and in-person conversations. It uses your microphone, and DeepL states that your audio is not stored after the session.
Translate recording to English after a call or meeting
A live translator translates in the moment. To keep a recording you can check later, record the conversation, transcribe it in the spoken language, and translate the transcript.
Tell the other person you are recording. Laws on recording calls differ by country, and you are responsible for following them. Our guide to recording a phone call on iPhone, Samsung and with a recorder covers the options.
Transcribe a voice recording in 113 languages with Comu AI
With the plan that comes with the device, Comu AI transcribes a voice recording in 113 languages, labels the speakers, writes a summary and exports the result as Word or PDF, ready for the translation step.
Comu is a pocket recorder with an app. You record a meeting, interview, lecture or phone call with the device, or you import an audio file, including an iPhone voice memo, into the Comu app. Comu has a bone-conduction microphone, and attaching the device to your phone is all it takes to record a call.
To get English from a recording in another language, transcribe it in Comu in the spoken language, export the transcript or the summary as a Word or PDF file, and give that file to a translator. Google Translate and DeepL both take Word and PDF files, and Word translates its own documents.
Comu Note Pro is $128.99 and Comu Action Pro is $179.99 (Nov 9, 2026). Our guide to the features that come with Comu covers each included feature, and Comu Note Pro and Comu Action Pro are on Comu's store.
A Comu device fits you when you record interviews, calls or meetings in other languages regularly and want the transcript, speaker labels and summary in one place.
Tips for a more accurate audio translation
Accurate English starts with a clear recording and the right spoken-language setting.
- Record close to the speaker. Keep the microphone within arm's length of the person talking.
- Reduce background noise. Close a window, move away from a fan or an air conditioner, and put the device on a stable surface.
- One person at a time. Let each person finish before the next one speaks, so every speaker's words stay separate in the transcript.
- Set the spoken language, not the target. Wave and HappyScribe can detect the spoken language. Google Translate's microphone cannot.
- Say names and numbers clearly. Spell unusual names aloud once.
- Split long recordings. Shorter files are easier to review, and Wave takes up to 200MB per file.
- Use a Word file or a text PDF. Google Translate does not translate text inside scanned PDF pages.
- Keep the original transcript with the translation. Wave returns both, and a side-by-side read catches a mistranslated number.
Translate audio to English not working: what to check
When an audio translation does not work, check the spoken-language setting, the file format, the file size and your device or plan.
- Wrong spoken language. Set the language that is spoken, not English, and run the file again. Google Translate's microphone does not detect the language for you.
- File format. Word accepts .wav, .mp4, .m4a and .mp3. Google Translate's Documents tab accepts .docx, .pdf, .pptx and .xlsx, so give it the transcript.
- File size and allowances. Wave allows 200MB per file and 5 files a day on its free tool. HappyScribe's free allowance is the first 10 minutes. Word allows 300 minutes of uploaded audio a month on Microsoft 365. Google Translate documents top out at 10 MB.
- Voice input unavailable. In Google Translate, the message "Voice input isn't available" means the selected language has no voice input. Chrome is the only fully supported browser on a computer.
- Feature missing on your device. Voice Memos transcription needs an iPhone 12 or later and a supported language. Live Translation needs Apple Intelligence. Word's Transcribe runs in Word for Microsoft 365 on Windows in commercial tenants, and government tenants get it in Word for the web.
- Scanned PDF. Google Translate does not translate text inside images or scanned PDF pages. Export a Word file instead.
Which method fits you
Use an upload tool for a single file, Word or your phone's built-in apps for recordings you already have, a live translator for conversations in progress, and Comu for regular recording in other languages.
| If you | Choose |
|---|---|
| Have one audio file and want English text now | Wave or HappyScribe |
| Pay for Microsoft 365 and want the work inside Word | Word Transcribe, then Translate Document |
| Have a voice memo on an iPhone 12 or later in a supported language | Voice Memos, then the Translate app |
| Use a Pixel | Recorder, then Google Docs Translate document |
| Need to talk with someone across languages right now | Live Translation, Google Translate or DeepL Voice |
| Record interviews, calls or meetings in other languages regularly | Comu for the transcript and summary, then a translator |
Start with what you already have: Word on Microsoft 365, Voice Memos on a recent iPhone, or Recorder on a Pixel. When the language or the volume outgrows them, an upload tool covers single files and Comu covers regular recording.
Common questions about translating audio to English
How do I translate audio to English?
Transcribe the audio in its original language, then translate the transcript to English. Upload tools such as Wave and HappyScribe do both steps: upload the file, set the spoken language, choose English and download the result. Word, Google Translate and DeepL translate a transcript you already have.
Can AI translate audio?
Yes. AI audio translators transcribe the speech in the original language and then translate the text. Wave and HappyScribe run both steps in one upload. Wave returns the original transcript beside the English, and HappyScribe lets you edit the transcription before it translates.
Can Google Translate translate an audio recording?
Google Translate translates a recording once it is text. Transcribe the audio in the spoken language, then upload the transcript in the Documents tab as a .docx, .pdf, .pptx or .xlsx file up to 10 MB. For live speech, tap the microphone and Google Translate translates the words as you speak.
Is there a free way to translate audio to English?
Yes. Wave translates up to 5 files a day for free with no account, at 200MB per file, and the first 10 minutes on HappyScribe are free. Word's Transcribe is included with a Microsoft 365 subscription, up to 300 minutes a month.
How do I translate a voice memo on my iPhone?
Open the recording in Voice Memos, tap More, choose Copy Transcript, and paste the text into the Translate app. The transcript needs an iPhone 12 or later, one of ten supported languages, and a country or region where the feature is available. For other languages, upload the audio to a tool such as Wave or import it into the Comu app.
Can I translate audio to English in real time?
Yes. Live Translation on iPhone translates phone calls, Google Translate's microphone translates speech as you speak, and DeepL Voice translates meetings and in-person conversations. Live Translation needs Apple Intelligence and is offered in selected languages and regions.
How do I translate a recorded phone call to English?
Record the call, transcribe it in the spoken language, and translate the transcript. Comu records calls through a bone-conduction microphone and exports the transcript as Word or PDF for a translator.
Which languages can I translate audio from?
Wave understands 17 spoken languages, Voice Memos transcribes in ten, Recorder on a Pixel transcribes in the language you choose, and Comu transcribes in 113 languages. DeepL translates documents into 100+ languages.
Related reading
- How to Transcribe Audio to Text: 5 Methods Compared (2026)
- How to Transcribe Voice Memos on iPhone and Mac (2026 Guide)
- How to Use Voice to Text: Three Routes from Speech to Clean, Editable Text
- How to Record a Phone Call on iPhone, Samsung and With a Recorder (2026)
- How to Record a Phone Call on Android and Samsung (2026): Phone App, Voice Recorder and Speech to Text
- AI Notetaker for In Person Meetings (2026): 7 Options Compared by Price and Use Case
Sources
Pages were checked on Nov 9, 2026.
- Wave, Translate Audio to English, Free
- HappyScribe, Translate Audio Online
- Microsoft Support, Transcribe your recordings and Translate text into a different language
- Google Translate Help, Translate by speech, Translate documents & websites and Transcribe in Google Translate
- Google Docs Editors Help, Translate documents or write in a different language
- Pixel Phone Help, Create, edit & manage transcriptions and Save & share recordings & transcripts
- Apple Support, View a Voice Memos transcription on iPhone, Translate words and phrases on iPhone, Translate in-person conversations with iPhone and Use Live Translation on iPhone
- DeepL, About file translation, File formats, DeepL Translator and DeepL Voice
- Comu, Comu Action Pro, Comu Note Pro, and app downloads
