How Can I Translate a YouTube Video?

Youtube has over 2.70 billion monthly active users as of January 2025. However, when it started in 2015, YouTube was mostly a platform for local content, where creators catered primarily to audiences who spoke the same language. But now channels like MrBeast, LikeNastya, PewDiePie, and CocoMelon have turned into global entertainment giants, amassing millions—sometimes billions—of views across different regions. But their success isn’t just about great content; it is about accessibility.

Take MrBeast, for example, instead of limiting his viral challenges and over-the-top giveaways to English-speaking audiences, Jimmy Donaldson (MrBeast) launched fully dubbed versions of many of his videos in multiple other languages first. This approach opened the floodgates to millions of new viewers, proving that translation isn’t just a nice addition, it is needed to reach a global audience.

If you’re a content creator looking to grow an international audience or a viewer trying to enjoy content in a different language, translating YouTube videos into other languages has never been more important. Let’s break down the different ways to do it.

Why Translate YouTube Videos? 

Expanding a YouTube video’s reach goes beyond just hitting “upload.” 

If you believe adding English subtitles alone is enough, consider why top YouTubers like MrBeast invest in translating their videos to reach audiences across different languages and dialects. If translation didn’t matter, they wouldn’t go through the effort. If you think it is not important, just go to “Build an Audience” in your YouTube studio tab, to see who is watching your videos on YouTube. You will find users from different regions watching your video. But as your video is not available in your language, they would end up leaving the video midway – resulting in you losing your probable fans!

Engage International Audiences

Language should never be a barrier to content consumption. Adding translations makes videos accessible to a broader demographic. For instance, the famous PewDiePie quote, “Don't be a salad, be the best damn broccoli you could ever be,” can become “Ne sois pas une salade, sois le meilleur fichu brocoli que tu puisses être.” for the French audience. Over two-thirds of viewers aren’t from your region, so translating videos can significantly expand your audience and channel growth. 

Boost Engagement and SEO

Videos with multiple subtitle language options tend to rank higher in search results, drawing in more viewers. Plus, subtitles aren’t just for language barriers—they help the hard-of-hearing, those watching in noisy environments, and on-the-go viewers who prefer to watch videos without sound. YouTube even offers an automatic translation of subtitles, making it easier than ever to expand your reach.

Different Methods to Translate a YouTube Video

There are multiple ways to translate YouTube videos, and choosing the right one depends on a few key factors like accuracy, cost, and audience needs.

Using YouTube’s Built-In Subtitle Feature

YouTube offers an automatic captioning screen call system, but while convenient, it’s not always accurate—especially for complex dialogue or lesser-known language dialects. Fortunately, creators can edit these captions manually or add professionally translated audio subtitles.

Translating YouTube Video Captions with Third-Party Tools

Several tools can help translate subtitles more efficiently and save them. Software like Amara, Rev, and Subtitle Edit allows users to create, edit, and automatically translate their captions into different languages. For those looking for higher-quality screen translation and natural voice dubbing, Murf AI offers AI-powered translation models in multiple languages, ensuring translations are clear and engaging.

Step-by-Step Guide on How to Translate a YouTube Video on YouTube

On YouTube, you cannot translate the original audio of videos with voiceovers. But you can add translated video translator subtitles. Here is a step-by-step guide on how you can translate videos on YouTube:

Step 1: Open YouTube Studio.

Step 2: Navigate to Subtitles in the left menu

Step 3: Click on the video titles in the subtitle language you want to translate.

Step 4: Select Add Language, then choose the target language.

Step 5: Click Add Subtitles and either upload a file or manually type and paste the translation

Step 6: Save and publish the changes.

How to Translate a YouTube Video Using Murf AI

Murf AI product and tool MurfDub allows you to translate your videos into 10+ languages while keeping the emotions and voice of the original video. This help and tool ensures that the translated language video is more accurate than the Google translate function, and without much effort.

The steps are very simple:

1. Log on to MurfDub, using your credentials, or you can start fresh by signing up using your Gmail account.

2. Simply click on the “Let’s get started” button. Then you can either watch the tutorial to learn about the platform or skip it.

3. Then to start your translation process, click on “Create New Project.” Give a name to your project, so that you can identify easily from the list of projects you will create later.

4. You can then either drop the video that you want to translate or browse your computer for the list of videos you have.

5. Then click on “Automate Dubbing,” for the platform to start processing the video.

6. Then select the source language of the video, that is the original language of the video. And the language you want to translate the video into. You can select multiple languages as needed.

7. Once done, just click on “Start Dubbing” to start the translation process.

The platform will take some time to upload, analyze, process the video.

The video translator then divides the output into different blocks, which you can edit further to make desired language changes:

• Pronunciation
• Pause
• Shorten the dub section
• Expand the translation
• Replace words

Or reuse the auto-translate feature to generate a version of a new language or a different version of the translation. But after every change, the entire block and translation need to be rendered again.

Best Practices for Translating YouTube Videos

Ensuring high-quality translations involves more than just swapping words from one language to another.

Focus on Cultural Sensitivity

Certain phrases and expressions don’t translate well across languages. A literal translation might lead to confusion or even offense. For example, in French, the phrase "C'est la fin des haricots" (literally "It’s the end of the beans") means "It’s the end of the world," but a direct translation wouldn't make sense in English. 

Similarly, in Spanish, "Está lloviendo a cántaros" ("It’s raining jugs") is equivalent to "It’s raining cats and dogs" in English. Adapting translations to the cultural context and foreign language of the target audience ensures clarity and engagement.

Quality Control & Proofreading

Translation errors can distort meaning. Always review translated text and closed captions, to maintain accuracy and readability. For instance, in German, "Gift" means poison, not a present—misinterpreting such words can lead to major misunderstandings. Having a native language speaker proofread translations prevents such errors and improves content credibility.

Choosing Between Subtitles and Dubbing

Subtitles work well for educational and instructional videos, while dubbing might be a better fit for entertainment and storytelling. However, dialect variations should also be considered. In Spanish, Castilian Spanish spoken in Spain differs from Latin American Spanish, where words like "computadora" (computer) replace "ordenador." 

Likewise, in French, European French differs from Canadian French, where phrases and pronunciation may vary significantly. Murf AI’s natural-sounding translations make it a strong option for creators looking to offer multilingual audio dubbing while maintaining authenticity across different dialects.

Why do YouTube Translations Matter?

As we have stated before, having an audio translation or video translator or even translated subtitles helps reach a wider audience of different languages and dialects. Apart from that here are just a few more reasons to consider adding translation to YouTube videos:

• 79% of internet users have a YouTube account. Translating content can help reach this vast audience. 
• 80% of YouTube views come from outside the United States.
• 60% of YouTube’s watch time comes from non-English speakers.
• Subtitles boost viewer engagement, increasing viewership by up to 40%. Plus, they make a significant impact—viewers are 80% more likely to watch a video to the end when subtitles are included.
• 90% of organizations incorporate captions into their videos, to better engage their audience.
• More than 50% of people prefer that videos that they watch should have translated subtitles.

With the majority of YouTube’s audience coming from outside the country, offering multilingual subtitles or dubbing isn’t just an option; it’s a necessity for growth. Not only does it improve engagement and accessibility, but it also helps your content reach viewers who otherwise might scroll past due to language barriers.

By investing in quality translations, you’re not just reaching a wider audience—you’re creating an inclusive, globally recognized brand. Whether through subtitles or AI-driven dubbing like Murf Dub, making your content multilingual ensures that your message resonates with people worldwide.

Take Your YouTube Channel Global with Translations

Translating YouTube videos isn’t just about accessibility—it’s about breaking language barriers, growing a global audience, and keeping viewers engaged, no matter where they are. Whether you use YouTube’s built-in tools, third-party software, or AI-powered solutions like Murf AI, ensuring accurate and culturally relevant translations will help expand your content’s reach. Start translating today and watch your channel grow beyond borders!