> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.oncontinuum.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Transcription language

> Tell Continuum which languages to expect so live transcripts are more accurate.

Continuum can transcribe meetings in 18 languages. By default it expects English. If your meetings are in French, or move between languages, you can tell Continuum which languages to expect, or let it detect the language on its own. The Continuum app itself stays in English.

## Supported languages

English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Arabic, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Hebrew, Hindi, Japanese, Mandarin, Norwegian, Swedish, Turkish, and Vietnamese.

Your AI summary is written from the transcript. You can ask the AI to translate it at any time, for example "Translate this summary to French Canadian." See [Continuum AI](/overview/continuum-AI).

## Choosing which languages Continuum expects

Continuum offers three choices:

* **English** is the default. Choose it when your meetings are in English.
* **French**. Choose it when your meetings are in French.
* **Multi-language** detects the language as people speak and follows the conversation when it switches between any of the supported languages.

You can select English and French together if your meetings mix the two.

<Note>
  This is one setting for your account. Change it from the transcript or from Settings and both places update. It applies to every meeting you capture until you change it again.
</Note>

Telling Continuum which languages to expect makes it lean strongly toward those languages. It still follows a real switch to another language, but it is far less likely to mishear an English conversation as another language.

### From the transcript

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the live transcript">
    Open your meeting and click **Transcript** in the capture controls. You can do this before or during a capture.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click the language button">
    In the top right of the transcript panel, click the button showing your current choice, such as **English**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Pick the languages you expect">
    Tick **English**, **French**, or both. Choose **Multi-language** to let Continuum detect the language on its own.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/continuum-51ca1d91/6gblXtY5BT1q49ue/images/transcript-picker.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=6gblXtY5BT1q49ue&q=85&s=02ee6c108370b4e2c4b85500fb8e5878" alt="Screenshot of the transcription language selector" style={{ borderRadius: '0.5rem' }} width="565" height="190" data-path="images/transcript-picker.png" />
</Frame>

### From Settings

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Settings">
    Click **Settings** in the sidebar, then open **General**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Find Transcription language">
    Under **Meetings**, click the **Transcription language** button.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Pick the languages you expect">
    Tick **English**, **French**, or both, or choose **Multi-language**.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/continuum-51ca1d91/Z18rZfRCmpA0rAbN/images/settings-language-picker.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=Z18rZfRCmpA0rAbN&q=85&s=55584e4dc6ac1979c650ddb5dfe83cc5" alt="Screenshot of the settings language selector. Defaults to English" style={{ borderRadius: '0.5rem' }} width="593" height="120" data-path="images/settings-language-picker.png" />
</Frame>

## Changing the language during a meeting

You can open the language picker while a capture is running. The change applies to your next capture, not the one in progress. If you need it to take effect now, click **Stop**, change the language, then resume. Everything captured so far stays in the transcript.

## On mobile

The mobile app always detects the language on its own. There is no language setting on your phone, and the choice you make on desktop does not affect mobile captures.

## Frequently asked questions

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Does choosing English stop Continuum from transcribing other languages?">
    No. Continuum leans strongly toward the languages you choose but still follows a genuine switch to another supported language. If your meetings often mix languages, choose **Multi-language**.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="My English meeting came out in another language. What should I do?">
    Check that your transcription language is set to **English** (or English and French), then capture your next meeting. Continuum does not re-run transcripts from earlier meetings.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="I speak French and English in the same meeting. Which should I choose?">
    Tick both **English** and **French**. Continuum follows the conversation as it moves between the two.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I get my summary in another language?">
    Yes. Open the meeting and ask the AI, for example "Translate this summary to French." See [Continuum AI](/overview/continuum-AI).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Does this setting change uploaded audio or phone calls?">
    No. Uploaded audio and captured phone calls always detect the language on their own.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>