Arabic subtitles
Translate video to Arabic with the subtitles built in
Upload a video in any language, pick Arabic (العربية), and download it with the subtitles burned in. Arabic sets wider than Latin script at the same size, so a line that fits comfortably in English often has to be split.
What you get back
- Your video as an MP4 with the Arabic subtitles burned into the picture, so they play everywhere without a separate file.
- A Arabic SRT file you can upload wherever soft subtitles are supported.
- An SRT in the original spoken language, so you have both sides of the translation.
- Plain TXT transcripts of both, for show notes, blog posts, or search.
How Arabic subtitles get made
Add your video
Upload an MP4, MOV, AVI, or MKV file, or paste a link from a supported source.
Choose Arabic
The speech is transcribed in whatever language it was spoken, then translated into Arabic.
Download the result
You get the video with Arabic subtitles burned in, plus SRT and TXT files for both languages.
What is different about Arabic subtitles
Arabic sets wider than Latin script at the same size, so a line that fits comfortably in English often has to be split.
- Arabic runs right to left, so the line starts at the right edge. Latin brand names, URLs, and Western digits inside that line still run left to right, and the two directions have to be resolved correctly or the words come out in the wrong order.
- Letters change shape depending on whether they open a word, sit inside it, or close it. Subtitles are burned in after the text is shaped, so the joined forms survive into the MP4 instead of breaking apart into isolated letters.
- Short vowel marks are left off in ordinary writing. Subtitles follow the same convention, which keeps lines shorter and matches what an Arabic reader expects to see.
- Regional dialects differ enough that a file written for one country can read oddly in another. Translating into Modern Standard Arabic keeps one file usable across the region.
Formality in Arabic
Modern Standard Arabic is the neutral choice for anything published to a general audience, and that is what the translation aims for.
Arabic at a glance
| Native name | العربية |
|---|---|
| Word for subtitles | ترجمة |
| Writing system | Arabic |
| Text direction | Right to left |
| Language code | ar |
| Where it is spoken | North Africa and the Middle East, from Morocco to Oman, with Modern Standard Arabic understood across all of them. |
Start with 50 free credits and see what a Arabic subtitle track looks like on your own video.
Continue with Google50 free credits. No credit card needed.Frequently asked questions
Can I get Arabic subtitles on a video that is not in Arabic?
Yes, that is the normal case. The speech is transcribed in whatever language it was spoken, and the transcript is translated into Arabic. You do not have to tell it what the source language is.
Do I get a Arabic subtitle file as well as the video?
Yes. Every job returns the video with subtitles burned in, plus SRT and TXT files for both the original language and Arabic, so you can reuse the Arabic text elsewhere.
Will Arabic characters render correctly in the video?
Yes. Subtitles are burned into the picture after the text has been shaped and laid out, so what you see in the editor is what ends up in the MP4. Right-to-left lines are laid out correctly.
Can I fix the Arabic wording before I download?
Yes, on the Pro and Studio plans. You can edit the text and timings in the subtitle editor, trim the clip, and reburn before downloading.