Normally, if you’re going after a specific market, you will already know the subtitle languages and dialects you want to use. However, this isn’t always the case. Often many want to reach new markets by translating their content into more than one language. But, if you’re stuck on what languages you should consider, I have made a list of some of the most popular ones to look into!

The most spoken languages globally: Subtitle languages to consider

According to a 2020 study by Ethnologue, below, are the most spoken languages. It’s great to consider them for subtitling and captioning as they are statistically widely spoken. However, there are some languages that aren’t contained to only one country. For example, Spanish. So, it’s important to consider this factor as well.

What are the best subtitle languages to add to your videos?

So, if you’re looking to translate your content from English with subtitles, you have a pretty good idea about the largest markets you can reach. However, it’s important to remember that some countries may not use subtitles as their preferred method of translation for certain media. To find out more about your specific project, get in contact with one of SPG Studios localization experts to discuss your options. SPG offer the following and more:

Mandarin Chinese subtitles
Hindi subtitles
Spanish subtitles
French subtitles
Standard Arabic subtitles
Bengali subtitles
Russian subtitles
Portuguese subtitles
Indonesian subtitles
Urdu subtitles
German subtitles
Japanese subtitles

Do your research, and check analytics if possible

If you are able to track audiences that go to your website, view your videos, etc., it wouldn’t hurt to look at the languages they speak. In other words, consider making data-driven decisions on the languages you should subtitle.

Will your video content work in different markets?

Once again, this is a question that is based on your unique content and industry. If you can, and have a budget for it, try testing different languages. Some of the most popular being Arabic subtitling, Japanese subtitling, etc. Speaking with a localization company would be your best option if you’re searching for the best markets to target, and don’t know where to start.

Video subtitles and captions help business and content creators connect with new audiences. You may have one specific market you want to target, or fifteen