If you run a server with members who speak different languages, you have probably searched for a way to "connect Discord to translate." Here is the short version: Discord itself does not translate anything, but you can connect a translation bot in a couple of minutes. From then on, members who opt in are translated automatically, right in the channel, and anyone can translate a single message with a flag reaction.
Does Discord have built-in translation?
No. There is no native Discord setting that translates messages, not on desktop, mobile, or web. The only way to translate Discord chat is to connect a third-party translation bot. The good news is that a modern bot like Talksy makes the result feel native: instead of dumping a translation into your DMs, it posts the translated message back into the same channel as the original speaker, with the same avatar and the same name.
Connect Discord to translate in 4 steps
- Add a translation bot to your server. Discord has no built-in translation, so you connect a bot. Add Talksy with one click, no signup or credit card needed. No admin rights? Install it to your own account instead and /translate and right-click → Apps → Translate Message work in every server you are in.
- Pick the channels to translate. An admin clicks ⚡ Set up on the welcome message Talksy posts when it joins and picks the channels, or runs /server enable then /server channel add channel:#general.
- Members opt in. Each member who wants their messages translated runs /talksy language:spanish (or any language), once per server. Nobody is translated unless they opt in.
- Start chatting. Opted-in members’ messages are now posted in their chosen language too, inline as them (their avatar and name, plus a flag). Anyone can also react with a flag emoji for a one-off translation, or use /translate.
/server enable
/server channel add channel:#general
/talksy language:spanishEven faster: one-click setup when the bot joins
As soon as Talksy joins your server, it posts a welcome message, in your server's own language, with setup buttons. Admins click ⚡ Set up, pick the channels to translate, and it's ready in seconds, with no commands to memorize. The same message offers a 🌐 Add route wizard for mirroring a channel into another language, and invites everyone to try it immediately: react to the welcome message itself with a flag emoji and watch it translate.
And for casual use there is no setup at all: anyone can react to any message with a flag emoji (🇫🇷 🇪🇸 🇰🇷) and get a translation, with no account, no registration and no commands. See all commands.
Frequently asked questions
Does Discord have a built-in translate feature?
No. Discord has no native translation — there is no setting that translates chat. To translate messages you connect a translation bot like Talksy, which translates opted-in members’ messages inline in 100+ languages, and any message on a flag reaction.
How do I translate a single message in Discord?
Two ways with Talksy: react to the message with a flag emoji (e.g. 🇬🇧) and Talksy replies with the translation, or — if you user-install Talksy — right-click the message → Apps → Translate Message, which works even in servers where the bot is not installed.
Is there a free way to translate Discord chat?
Yes. Talksy’s free plan includes 100 automatic translations, 100 manual /translate commands, and 50 flag-reaction translations every month, plus 1 free channel-to-channel route — across all 100+ supported languages. No credit card.
Can I auto-translate an entire channel?
Yes, two ways. For a mixed-language channel, an admin runs /server enable and /server channel add channel:#general, and every member who opts in with /talksy is translated there. To translate everything posted in a channel for everyone, create a channel route that mirrors it into a second channel in another language: /server route add source:#general target:#general-es language:spanish. Every server gets one route free.