Guide

How to translate subtitles without breaking the timing

Translation is not just swapping words. The target line has to fit the same reading time, or viewers will miss it.

Last updated: 1 November 2026

TL;DR: review the source transcript first, translate cue by cue, keep the original timing, then check line length and reading speed. Export SRT/VTT and keep the source file.

1. Fix the source before translating

Machine translation amplifies bad transcription. Correct names, product terms, numbers and sentence breaks in the source language first. If the source is wrong, every target language will be wrong in the same place.

2. Keep cue ids and timing

Translate inside the existing cue structure. Do not merge or reorder cues during the first pass; that makes it impossible to compare source and target. If a translated line is too long, split the cue or shorten the wording.

3. Check reading speed, not just meaning

Check	Why it matters
Characters per second	Long translations become unreadable.
Line length	Two short lines beat one dense block.
Names and numbers	These are the first things viewers notice.
Speaker changes	Keep the label with the correct line.

4. Export and review in the player

Export SRT or VTT and play the video with the new track. Watch the first minute and the busiest section. Use the CPS calculator if a line feels too fast.

FAQ

What is the best way to translate subtitles?

Translate from a reviewed source transcript, keep the same cue ids, and review the target language for line length and timing. Machine translation alone often produces lines that are too long to read.

Can I translate captions without re-timing?

Yes. Translate the existing cues and keep their start/end times. If the target text is much longer, split the line or shorten the wording instead of speeding up the reading rate.

Should I export SRT or VTT for translation?

SRT is the safest interchange format. VTT is fine for web players. Keep the original source file so you can compare and re-export later.