Voice message in another language: say it right, even if you can't speak it
Your in-laws speak Portuguese, your landlord only replies in Greek, or a supplier prefers voice notes in Mandarin. Write or record what you want to say and this prompt has your todo.is agent translate it into natural, polite speech, record it as a voice note, and show you the translation so you know exactly what you're sending.
The prompt
- Turn this into a voice message in [TARGET LANGUAGE] for [WHO IT'S FOR]: [WHAT I WANT TO SAY, OR MY ATTACHED VOICE NOTE]. Make it sound like a native speaker talking, not a word-for-word translation, with a [TONE] tone. Use [FORMAL OR INFORMAL] address. Record it as an MP3 in a [VOICE] voice, under 1 minute. Show me the translated text and an English back-translation so I can check it before I send it. If they reply with a voice note, I'll forward it to you: transcribe it, translate it and help me answer.
What to change
- [TARGET LANGUAGE]: Be specific when it matters: "Brazilian Portuguese", "Mexican Spanish", "Egyptian Arabic", "French".
- [WHO IT'S FOR]: E.g. "my wife's grandmother", "my landlord", "a supplier I've never met".
- [WHAT I WANT TO SAY, OR MY ATTACHED VOICE NOTE]: Type the message in your language, or attach a voice note and your agent transcribes it first.
- [TONE]: E.g. "warm and affectionate", "polite but firm", "friendly and professional".
- [FORMAL OR INFORMAL]: Many languages change words for formal "you" (usted, vous, Sie). Choose formal for elders and strangers.
- [VOICE]: E.g. "male voice, about my age", "female, gentle".
Example result
- Voice message for Grandma Lucia
- Brazilian Portuguese · warm and affectionate · informal but respectful ("a senhora") · male voice · 38 seconds
- What you said (from your voice note)
- "Hi Grandma Lucia, it's Tom, Ana's husband. Thank you so much for the recipe book you sent. Ana cried when she saw your handwriting. We made the pão de queijo last Sunday. It wasn't as good as yours, but we're practising. We can't wait to see you in December. Big hug."
- Translation that was recorded
- "Oi, vó Lúcia, aqui é o Tom, marido da Ana. Muito obrigado pelo caderno de receitas que a senhora mandou. A Ana chorou quando viu a sua letra. A gente fez o pão de queijo no domingo passado. Não ficou tão bom quanto o da senhora, mas a gente está treinando! Estamos contando os dias pra ver a senhora em dezembro. Um beijo grande e um abraço apertado."
- Back-translation (to check the meaning)
- "Hi, Grandma Lúcia, this is Tom, Ana's husband. Thank you so much for the recipe notebook you sent. Ana cried when she saw your handwriting. We made pão de queijo last Sunday. It wasn't as good as yours, but we're practising! We're counting the days to see you in December. A big kiss and a tight hug."
- Notes from your agent
- • Used "vó" (Grandma) and "a senhora" (respectful you), which is how grandchildren usually speak to grandparents in Brazil
- • Changed "big hug" to "um beijo grande e um abraço apertado", the usual warm sign-off
- • Pronounced as Brazilian Portuguese, not European Portuguese
- File delivered
- • message_for_avo_lucia.mp3: 38 s. On WhatsApp, forward it or share the file to her chat. It plays as an audio file rather than a recorded voice note, which is normal.
How to do it with todo.is
- Copy the prompt and choose the language, the person, the tone and formal or informal address.
- Type your message or record a voice note, then send it to your agent on WhatsApp, Telegram or the Today screen.
- Read the translation and the back-translation your agent sends, then listen to the MP3.
- Forward the MP3 to the person. When they answer with a voice note, forward it to your agent to understand and reply.
Tips for a better result
- Name the country, not just the language. Spanish in Madrid and in Mexico City differs in words and accent.
- Always read the back-translation. It's your quick check that jokes, names and dates came through correctly.
- For elders and people you've just met, choose formal address. It's the most common mistake translation apps make.
- Tell your agent who your contacts are once ("Grandma Lucia speaks Brazilian Portuguese"). It remembers for next time.
voice message in another language: FAQ
- Can I send the message on WhatsApp as a voice note? You get an MP3 you can forward or share into any chat. On most phones it plays as an audio file rather than the green recorded-voice bubble, but it sounds the same.
- Will it sound like a real person? Yes, the AI voice sounds natural in most major languages. It won't sound like your own voice, so say who it's from if the person might be confused.
- Can it translate a voice message I received? Yes. Forward the voice note to your agent and it transcribes it, translates it, and can draft a reply in the same language.
- Is AI translation accurate enough for important messages? For everyday messages it's very good. For legal, medical or official matters, use a professional translator or interpreter.
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