How to translate a meeting and get notes in your own language

Updated: 2026-09-23

We make Spoken. The alternatives below are described from their makers' own pages.

Short answer: use an app that translates live and then summarizes. With Spoken on your phone: open Listen, choose the language being spoken and your language, read the translated captions as people talk, then tap Notes for a summary and action items in your language. It works even when the meeting is in a language you don't speak.

Step by step with Spoken

Open Listen. Tap Listen and choose the language being spoken in the meeting.
Set your language. Choose the language you want captions and notes in.
Start capturing. Put your phone near the speakers and tap start. Translated captions appear live as people talk. You can switch to plain transcription if the meeting is already in your language.
End the session. Tap End when the meeting finishes.
Get your notes. Tap Notes. Spoken writes a summary and a list of action items in your language. The session is saved to History, so you can reopen the transcript and notes later.

Tips for better results

Keep the phone close to whoever is talking; distance and background noise lower accuracy.
Tell participants you're capturing the meeting and get their consent.
Check important numbers, names and decisions against the transcript. AI summaries can make mistakes.

Other ways to do it

Microsoft Teams: live translated captions, available when the organizer has a Teams Premium or Copilot license.
Google Meet: translated captions on Business Standard and higher Google Workspace plans.
Timekettle W4 Pro: translation earbuds ($449) with a listening mode and AI-generated meeting minutes.
Notta: transcription with translation and summaries; translation is capped on the Pro plan, with paid add-ons for more.

These make most sense when your company already pays for the platform. Spoken works for in-person meetings, lectures and calls on speaker, without anyone else installing anything.

Compare real-time translation apps

Frequently asked questions

Can I get English notes from a meeting held in Japanese?

Yes. In Spoken, set Listen to the language being spoken and captions to your language. The notes are written in your language, and a single session can capture up to five languages.

Which apps translate a meeting and summarize it?

On a phone, Spoken does both. Timekettle W4 Pro does it with its earbuds. Microsoft Teams offers translated captions with a Teams Premium or Copilot license, and Google Meet offers them on Business Standard and higher Workspace plans. Notta combines transcription and translation, with translation capped on its Pro plan.

Do I need permission to record a meeting?

Often, yes. Rules depend on where you are and your organization's policies. Tell participants you're capturing the meeting and get their consent.

Sources

Try Spoken: two-way voice translation, live captions and AI meeting notes.

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