# How to Use Google Meet Speech Translation in 63 Languages

> Google Meet speech translation now works in 63 languages and detects who speaks what. Useful for small shop owners with suppliers abroad and expat families.

- URL: https://hsalem.com/google-meet-speech-translation/
- Author: Hassan Salem (https://hsalem.com/about/)
- Published: 2026-10-24
- Topics: AI, Business, Productivity, News

A few days ago, Google expanded **Google Meet speech translation** to 63 languages. You speak your language, the other person hears theirs, in a voice that sounds like yours. I have wanted this since my first phone call with a German landlord.

## What is new in Google Meet speech translation

Speech translation in Meet is not new. But until now it only worked for a small set of language pairs, and everyone in the meeting had to use the same pair for the whole call.

The update, [announced by Google on October 22](https://workspaceupdates.googleblog.com/2026/10/real-time-speech-translation-in-google-Meet-expands-to-63-languages-with-automatic-language-detection.html), changes three things:

1. It now covers 63 languages, German included.
2. Meet detects the spoken language by itself. If someone switches languages in the middle of a sentence, it follows.
3. Each person picks the language they want to hear. You can also mark languages you already understand, so Meet does not translate them.

You hear the translation as audio, with captions next to it. Google says it does not store your voice data or train models on your voice.

## Who it helps

**A small shop owner with suppliers abroad.** Many small sellers here buy from factories in Turkey, Vietnam or China. Today they write long emails or pay for an interpreter. Now a 20-minute video call about samples and delivery dates can happen in each side's own language.

**Expat families.** If your kids speak German and their grandparents speak only Arabic or Portuguese, a family call gets easier. In a one-on-one call, only one person needs an eligible plan.

## How people are already using it

The update is only a few days old, so real reviews are still rare. Simon Willison tried the earlier version in April. He said it "kind-of worked" between two laptops in the browser, but not on his iPhone and iPad, and called it "still very alpha". Expect the new version to be better, but test it first.

## How to use it

1. Start or join a Meet call on the web or in the updated mobile app.
2. Hover over the captions and translation button at the bottom and click **Translate speech**.
3. Choose the language you want to hear, then click **Next**.
4. Click **Translate me** so others hear you in their language.
5. Ask the other side to turn it on too. Everyone has to enable it for themselves.

My tip for business calls: before the call, ask Gemini or ChatGPT for help like this:

> I have a supplier call tomorrow about late delivery. Write 6 short, clear sentences I can say. Avoid idioms, because the call will be machine translated.

Short sentences translate much better than long ones.

## The honest limits

It needs a paid plan: Google AI Pro or Ultra for personal accounts, or Business Standard and up for companies. Base plans and AI Pro are limited to 90 minutes per meeting. In a scheduled meeting, the host must have the plan. Google also says availability depends on region and age, and it does not list the countries. I could not confirm that it works in Germany yet, so check if the button shows up for you before an important call. Recordings, live streams and dial-in calls are not supported. And for contracts or prices, confirm the details in writing after the call.

If you like practical AI tips like this, [subscribe to my newsletter](https://hsalem.com/newsletter/). One short entry a week, no noise.

## Sources

1. [Google Workspace Updates: Real-time speech translation in Google Meet expands to 63 languages](https://workspaceupdates.googleblog.com/2026/10/real-time-speech-translation-in-google-Meet-expands-to-63-languages-with-automatic-language-detection.html)
2. [Google Meet Help: Translate speech in Google Meet](https://support.google.com/meet/answer/16221730)
3. [Android Authority: Google Meet expands real-time translation across 63 languages](https://www.androidauthority.com/google-meet-real-time-translation-3726963/)
4. [Simon Willison: Speech translation in Google Meet is now rolling out to mobile devices](https://simonwillison.net/2026/apr/27/speech-translation-in-google-meet-is-now-rolling-out-to-mobile-d/)
