# Translate typed answers into one language

Canonical page: https://www.questionpunk.com/support/translate-answers

Get a machine draft of every typed answer in one working language, then review and approve it in Results.

On a survey in more than one language, respondents type answers in their own language. Pick a working language and each typed answer gets a draft translation for a reviewer to correct and approve. Approved translations show under the answer in Responses and in the Expanded export.

Last reviewed: 2026-11-09

Time: 5 minutes

Level: Intermediate

Audience: Researchers, International teams, Analysts

## Before you start

The survey needs at least two languages. Add one in the editor’s language menu first; see [Translate a survey into other languages](https://www.questionpunk.com/support/translations).

## Steps

### 1. Choose a working language

Open the survey’s **Settings** and find **Survey language**. Under **Translate typed answers**, pick the **Working language** your team reads. The setting appears once the survey has a second language; choose **Off** to stop translating.

### 2. Decide whether a reviewer must approve

**Require a reviewer** is on by default: only approved translations show in results and exports. Turn it off to show machine drafts before anyone reviews them, marked **Machine translation, not reviewed**.

### 3. Review the drafts

In **Results**, open **Tools → Translations**. **To review** lists drafts waiting for a reviewer, with the original answer beside the translation. Correct the wording if needed, then click **Approve**. **Approved** lists finished ones with who reviewed them and when.

### 4. Read and export the translations

Open a response in **Responses** to see each translation under the answer. In **Export**, choose the **Expanded** layout: CSV and Excel files get two extra columns, **Answer Translation** and **Answer Translation Status**.

## Details

Short-text and long-text answers are translated, and the text typed into a choice question’s Other option. Answers already in the working language are left as they are.

Drafts are made after a response is completed, usually within a few minutes. Only responses changed in the last 30 days are picked up, so answers that were already older than that when you chose a working language are not translated, and there is no way yet to queue them. In Translations, **Translate now** appears on a row whose draft failed or whose answer was edited after its draft was made.

A draft whose numbers differ from the original is flagged with **Check the numbers**. Compare amounts, dates, and counts with the original before you approve.

Approving records who approved and when, and needs edit access to the survey. It never changes the respondent’s original answer.

This translates what respondents typed. To translate your questions for respondents, see [Translate a survey into other languages](https://www.questionpunk.com/support/translations).

## Check the result

Typed answers in other languages have translations in your working language, approved by a reviewer, in Responses and in the Expanded export.

## If something goes wrong

If **Translate typed answers** is missing from Settings, add a second language to the survey. If Translations says typed answers are not translated, choose a working language in Settings. If a row shows **No machine draft**, no AI model is allowed for this survey, so type the translation yourself. If a draft failed, click **Translate now** to try again.

## Related articles

- [Translate a survey into other languages](https://www.questionpunk.com/support/translations.md)
- [View your survey report](https://www.questionpunk.com/support/view-report.md)
- [Export response data](https://www.questionpunk.com/support/data-exports-exporting-results.md)