How do you change the dictation language in Word?

To change the dictation language in Word, open Dictate's settings with the gear icon and pick a language in the Spoken Language drop-down. Word starts in the language of your document, so you change the setting only when you want to speak another language. This page covers Dictate, the live voice typing feature in Word.

The Spoken Language drop-down sits behind the gear icon

Microsoft's steps say to click the gear icon to see the available dictation settings. Spoken Language is where you view and change the language, in the drop-down ¹. The same list also includes Microphone and Auto Punctuation.

The steps, in order:

1. Open the document and select Home > Dictate.
2. Click the gear icon in the Dictate panel.
3. In Spoken Language, open the drop-down and choose your language.
4. Close the settings and check that the Dictate button is on before you speak.

Microsoft's article does not give a separate set of steps for each platform, and it does not say exactly where the gear sits in each version of Word. If your menu looks different, look for the gear in the Dictate panel and the Spoken Language drop-down inside it.

Word starts in your document's language

Changing the setting is only needed in one case. Microsoft says that, by default, Dictation is set to your document language in Microsoft 365 ². A document in French therefore starts French dictation, and you change the setting only when you dictate in a different language.

This matters when you are testing. If you speak English into a document that is set to another language, the words may come out wrong, so check the setting first. Check the Spoken Language drop-down before you dictate a long passage.

Dictate supports 15 languages and a preview group

Microsoft's list of languages for Dictate has 15 entries before its preview group ³. They include English in several regional forms, French in two forms, German, Spanish in two forms, Hindi, Japanese and Chinese (China). If your language is not on the list, Word may not offer it.

Microsoft also has a Preview languages group, and it warns that these languages may have lower accuracy or limited punctuation support ⁴. A preview language can work, but expect more corrections and check the punctuation after each sentence.

Yap, which we make, is a dictation app for Mac and Windows. If you need a language that Word's list does not cover, or you want dictation that works in more apps, see the download page. For a built-in alternative that works in other apps, read how to dictate into any app.

Auto Punctuation depends on the language you choose

Auto Punctuation is a checkbox in the same settings, but it is only on offer for some languages. Microsoft says it can be turned on or off, but only where it is available for the language you chose ⁵. If you switch to a language that has no Auto Punctuation option, you need to speak the punctuation marks, as the answer on dictation commands in Word explains.

Windows and Mac settings do not replace Word's Spoken Language setting

Word's Spoken Language setting is its own control inside Dictate's settings. Microsoft's Dictate article does not say whether a change to your computer's language carries over into Word, so after any such change, look at Word's Spoken Language drop-down again.

The system features have their own settings. On Windows, Microsoft says you switch voice typing languages by changing the input language you use ⁶. On a Mac, Apple's steps say to go to Dictation, then click the Edit button next to Languages ⁷. These change the built-in voice typing, not Word's Dictate.

If you are on a one-time Office 2016 or 2019 for Windows, Dictate may not be part of your version. Microsoft says Dictate is not available in Office 2016 or 2019 for Windows without Microsoft 365 ⁸. In that case, use the Windows voice typing language settings instead. The steps are in how to change the voice typing language in Windows 11.

What to do if your language is missing

1. Check the Spoken Language drop-down first. Your language may already be there, under a regional name.
2. If it is in the preview group, test a short passage and check the punctuation before you dictate more.
3. If it is not in the list, use the built-in voice typing for your system, or a dictation app that covers your language. For Windows, see the windows dictation languages question. For a Mac with two languages, see the question on Mac dictation with two languages.
4. Recheck the list from time to time, since Microsoft may change it.

For the broader guide to dictating in Word, see Dictate in Word: voice typing on web, Windows and Mac. For the overview of dictation in the apps you use, see the apps and browsers overview. For the term, see dictation.