To dictate in more than one language on a Mac, leave Whisperer's language on automatic. It detects the language of each dictation across 97 languages with the default Whisper model, and the live preview streams words in the language you're speaking. You can answer a colleague in English, then dictate an email in Spanish, without touching a setting. Everything runs on your Mac.
How automatic detection works#
Whisper identifies the language from the first stretch of audio. Whisperer watches the live preview and settles on a language once it's consistent, then keeps it for the rest of that dictation.
It's reliable for normal sentences. It can struggle with:
- Very short phrases, like "yes" or a single name, where there isn't much to go on
- Close languages, such as Spanish and Portuguese, or Czech and Slovak
- Mixing languages inside one sentence
If you only ever dictate in one language, pick it in Settings. That removes the guesswork for short phrases.
Which engine for which language#
Every engine runs offline. Choose one in Settings.
| Engine | Languages | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Whisper (default, Whisperer V3) | 97 | Widest coverage. The pick for less common languages |
| Parakeet | 25 European languages | Runs on the Neural Engine, quick for supported languages |
| Qwen3 ASR | 31 | Another option for major languages |
| WhisperKit | Whisper languages | Whisper models on Core ML |
| Apple Speech | Apple's list on macOS 26 | Drives the live preview while you speak |
If you need Romanian, Icelandic or Swahili, Whisper is the safest choice. For English, Spanish, French or German, try Parakeet and see which you prefer.
Translate as you dictate#
AI Modes include a Translate mode. Speak in one language and get text in another, ready to paste with ⌘V.
- In Workspace, open AI Modes.
- Set Post-Process to Translate and choose the target language.
- On the LLM page, keep the built-in Qwen3.5 4B model (offline) or pick your own AI.
- Hold Fn, speak in your own language, release, paste.
Useful when you speak a language better than you write it, or for quick replies without a translation site.
Making non-English dictation more accurate#
- Use Whisperer V3 or Large V3. Small and Base struggle more outside English. See which Whisper model to use.
- Add prompt words for names and technical terms in your language.
- Fix recurring mistakes with the personal dictionary. Whisperer also learns from your corrections.
- Use a decent microphone. It matters more than people expect.
Meetings in other languages#
With Pro, meeting notes work in other languages too. The transcript is in the language people speak. Notes are written by the AI you choose, so their quality depends on that model's handling of the language.
Getting started#
- Get Whisperer on the Mac App Store ($2.99).
- Leave language on automatic, or pin your main language in Settings.
- Try Translate in AI Modes if you need it.
FAQ#
Can I switch languages without changing a setting?#
Yes. With language set to automatic, Whisperer detects the language of each dictation. You can dictate a Slack reply in English and the next email in Spanish without touching anything.
How many languages does Whisperer support?#
97 with the default Whisper model. Parakeet supports 25 European languages and Qwen3 ASR supports 31.
Related: Whisper vs Parakeet vs Apple Speech, multilingual features. See pricing.