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Message Translation

Copera includes built-in message translation powered by AI, making it straightforward for international teams to communicate in the same channels without language barriers. When translation is enabled, incoming messages are automatically translated into your preferred language, and you can always toggle back to see the original text.

How Translation Works​

Message translation in Copera operates on a per-channel basis. Each member can set their preferred reading language for a channel, and the system will automatically translate incoming messages into that language. The translation happens server-side using AI, so translated content is available as soon as messages arrive.

When a message has been translated:

  • The translated version is displayed as the primary message content.
  • A "See original" button appears below the message, letting you toggle between the translated text and the original.
  • Clicking "See original" reveals the message as the author wrote it. Click "Hide original" to return to the translated view.

This approach keeps the conversation flow natural while giving everyone the option to verify the original wording when needed.

Setting Your Translation Language​

To configure automatic translation for a channel:

  1. Open the text channel you want to configure.
  2. Click the channel name or the settings icon in the channel header to open the channel details.
  3. Find the Read language setting.
  4. Select your preferred language from the dropdown. Choose "Do not translate" if you want to read messages in their original language.

Once set, all messages in that channel will be translated into your chosen language. The setting is per-user and per-channel, so you can have different translation preferences for different channels.

Supported Languages​

Copera supports translation across a wide range of languages, including but not limited to:

  • English (Global, American, British, Australian)
  • Portuguese (Brazilian, European)
  • Spanish (Spain, Latin America)
  • French
  • German
  • Italian
  • Chinese (Simplified, Traditional)
  • Japanese
  • Korean
  • Arabic
  • Hindi
  • Russian
  • Dutch
  • And many more

The full list is available in the language selection dropdown when configuring your channel translation preference.

Audio Message Translation​

Translation also works with audio messages. When you have a translation language set and someone sends a voice message, Copera translates both the audio transcription and, when possible, generates a translated audio version. This means you can read or listen to voice messages in your preferred language.

tip

Set your preferred language once per channel and forget about it. Copera will automatically translate every incoming message so you can focus on the conversation rather than managing translations manually. You can always click "See original" on any individual message if you need to check the exact wording.

Best Practices for Multilingual Teams​

  • Encourage clear writing --- Simple, direct sentences translate more accurately than complex or idiomatic expressions.
  • Use one primary language per channel when possible --- Even with auto-translation, having a primary channel language helps keep the conversation consistent.
  • Check the original when precision matters --- For technical details, numbers, or proper names, toggle to the original message to confirm accuracy.
  • Combine with channel naming conventions --- Consider including the primary language in the channel name or description so members know what to expect (for example, #engineering-en or #marketing-pt).