Subtitle translation is constrained by time and image
A subtitle translation cannot be judged only as a written sentence.
The viewer has a limited amount of time to read it while also watching the scene. Spoken language may contain repetition, hesitation, interruption and structures that become too long when transferred literally into another language.
The translator therefore has to preserve meaning, tone and relevant detail while respecting the practical limits of timed text.
Different languages expand and contract differently. English dialogue can become substantially longer in Spanish, while another language pair may produce the opposite effect. This may require reformulation, resegmentation or timing adjustments where the project specification permits them.
Working from SRT, WebVTT and other timed files
When a client already has a timed subtitle file, we can use it as the basis for translation.
Common working and delivery formats include SRT, WebVTT, STL, TTML and SCC, although platform-specific workflows can require additional formats or restrictions.
The presence of timecodes does not mean that the source segmentation must always be copied mechanically. A subtitle template is a production tool, not a requirement to make every target language occupy the same number of words or read at the same pace.
Where permitted, the target version can be adjusted so that it reads naturally within the available timing.
Subtitle templates for multilingual releases
A well-prepared template can make a major difference when a production is being localised into many languages.
It may contain source dialogue, timing, speaker information, annotations, names, on-screen text guidance and contextual notes for translators.
Professional timed-text workflows recognise that a template does not always have to be a verbatim transcript. It should provide a reliable basis for downstream subtitling while leaving room for each language to meet its own linguistic and reading requirements.
We can translate from client-supplied templates or help create the source template when one does not yet exist.
English to Spanish subtitle translation
English to Spanish is common in documentary, film, corporate, educational and online content.
Some English expressions become considerably longer in Spanish. The translation may therefore need to be condensed without removing information that matters to the scene.
We also consider register, humour, acronyms, institutional names, technical terminology, measurement conventions and cultural references.
For content aimed at Spain, we use Spanish appropriate to that market unless the project requires a different national or regional variety.
Spanish to English subtitles
We translate Spanish-language productions for international audiences and can prepare British English, US English or a more neutral international version where appropriate.
The choice should be agreed at the start of the project so that spelling, vocabulary and style remain consistent.
Spoken Spanish can also be more expansive than the most natural English subtitle solution. The objective is to preserve the speaker’s meaning and personality without forcing spoken-language structures into unnatural written English.
Basque to English and English to Basque
Our location in Bizkaia gives Basque-language work a particular relevance within the service.
We translate subtitles both into Basque and from Basque into English, Spanish and other languages.
A foreign production company may need a Basque version for distribution in the Basque Country. Equally, a Basque documentary or film may require English subtitles for festivals, broadcasters, sales agents or international platforms.
We can also handle productions where Basque and Spanish alternate within the original audio.
Catalan, Valencian and Galician
Catalan, Valencian and Galician can also be target or source languages.
Projects may involve English to Catalan, Spanish to Valencian, Galician to English or several versions prepared from the same source programme.
Where a specific regional language standard or client style guide applies, it should be agreed before translation begins.
For international buyers, this makes it possible to manage the languages of Spain through a supplier based in Spain rather than splitting the project between unrelated vendors.
Documentary translation
Documentaries often require more contextual research than scripted content.
Interviews may be unscripted, multilingual and full of proper names, historical references, scientific terminology, company names or local institutions.
The translator has to understand which details are essential to the viewer and how they connect with the images and narrative.
If the production company can provide a shooting script, name list, glossary, background notes or previous translations, these materials can improve consistency and reduce ambiguity.
Film and television dialogue
Fiction brings different constraints.
A joke may not survive literal translation. Irony may depend on what the viewer sees rather than what a character says. A subtitle can also spoil a reaction if it appears before the line is spoken.
We therefore treat dialogue as part of a scene rather than as a sequence of independent strings.
Character relationships, register, recurring expressions and plot information should remain consistent throughout the production.
Corporate and specialist content
Corporate video often contains terminology that has already been translated elsewhere.
Product names, safety terms, process descriptions, software labels and internal terminology need to match the client’s approved material.
We can work with glossaries, translation memories, style guides and previous publications so that the subtitle version does not introduce new terminology unnecessarily.
This is particularly useful for industrial, medical, technical and training content.
On-screen text and forced narratives
Some videos contain text that the target audience must understand even when nobody speaks it aloud.
Examples include signs, messages, locations, dates, captions within archive footage and other plot-relevant on-screen information.
Whether these elements need translating depends on the production and delivery specification. When dialogue and important on-screen text overlap, the solution must take account of what information the viewer needs most at that moment.
We can follow client or platform instructions for handling these elements.
Segmentation and reading flow
Line breaks and subtitle boundaries affect comprehension.
A grammatically correct sentence can become harder to read if related words are split across lines or subtitle events in an unnatural way.
Target-language segmentation should therefore follow the linguistic structure of that language as far as the technical constraints allow.
This is one reason multilingual subtitling should not be reduced to replacing the source text inside fixed boxes without reviewing the result.
Machine translation and post-editing
Machine translation can be used in some subtitle workflows, particularly when the client has large volumes and a clearly defined production process.
Its suitability depends on the content, language pair and expected quality level.
A machine output may preserve the general meaning yet fail on humour, register, names, terminology, line length or scene context. It may also produce text that is impossible to read within the existing timing.
Where automated translation is used, we define the required human post-editing and QA rather than treating raw output as finished subtitles.
Linguistic and technical checks
Depending on the agreed scope, final checks can cover:
- translation completeness;
- terminology and names;
- spelling and punctuation;
- target-language consistency;
- segmentation and line treatment;
- timing where editable;
- file structure and character handling;
- consistency across episodes or related assets.
For multilingual projects, shared reference material helps keep recurring terms and names aligned across languages.
Requesting a quote
The fastest way to assess a project is to review the timed source file and, where possible, the video.
Please provide the source language, target languages, duration, current subtitle format, intended use and required delivery date.
If a platform specification, glossary or style guide applies, include it at the quotation stage.
Frequently asked questions
Can you translate subtitles without changing the timecodes?
Yes, where the existing timing remains suitable for the translated version. If the target language creates reading or segmentation problems, we can flag or correct them according to the agreed scope.
Do you need the video if I already have an SRT?
The video is strongly recommended because it provides speaker, visual and narrative context. Some straightforward projects can be translated from a reliable timed file alone, but this should be assessed before work starts.
Can you translate Basque subtitles into English?
Yes. We work from Basque into English and other languages as well as translating into Basque. This is useful for Basque productions intended for international distribution.
Can you prepare British and US English versions?
Yes. The target variety should be specified at the beginning of the project so that spelling, vocabulary and other conventions remain consistent.
Can one subtitle template be translated into many languages?
Yes. A reviewed template is often the most efficient basis for multilingual localisation. Each target language can still require its own adjustments to wording, segmentation or timing.
Can you review an existing subtitle translation?
Yes. We can revise existing subtitle files for linguistic accuracy, terminology, readability and other issues included in the agreed review scope.
Do you use machine translation?
It can be used when appropriate, but raw machine output is not automatically treated as final professional subtitles. The required post-editing and quality controls depend on the project.