How the translation keeps your timing
A subtitle file is two things: timing and text. The translator sends only the text of each numbered line, in batches of 80, and asks the model to return exactly one translated line per ID. The timecodes never leave your browser and are put back unchanged, so the translated file stays in sync with the video. If a line ever comes back missing, the original is kept so nothing shifts.
Getting a natural translation
- Add context. One sentence in the Context field (“gaming stream, casual, lots of slang” or “medical lecture”) noticeably improves word choice.
- Check reading speed afterwards. Some languages run 20 to 30% longer than English. Lines flagged amber in the Edit tab can be condensed with “Shorten fast lines”.
- Proper names are kept as written; fix any that the original transcription got wrong before translating.
- Dual-language puts the translation on top and the original underneath, which language learners and bilingual audiences like.
Machine translation and quality
AI translation is good enough for most online video, but professional releases still get a human review, especially for humour, idioms and legal or medical content. Treat the result as a strong first draft: the editor shows every line next to the video so the review goes quickly.
Questions people ask
How do I translate an SRT file?
Open the SRT above, choose the target language in AI tools, optionally add context, and press Translate. When it finishes, download the new SRT from the Export tab.
Which languages are supported?
36 target languages, including Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, Hindi, Arabic, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean and both Simplified and Traditional Chinese. The source can be any language.
Is it free?
Yes, within a fair-use limit per visitor so the service stays free for everyone. Very large files are sent in several batches automatically.
Will the timings change?
No. Only the text is translated; the start and end times of every subtitle stay exactly as in your file.
Is my file stored?
No. The text is sent to the AI model to be translated and is not saved by SubtitleWave. The video and the timecodes never leave your device.