- Wordpause
- mpv subtitle translator
Coming soon for Windows
A subtitle translator for mpv, with no script to maintain
Hover a word in the subtitles and the film pauses with its meaning and examples. Nothing is added to your mpv config.
Paused Pero alguien me quiere matar.
The short answer
Can mpv translate subtitles?
Not by itself. mpv shows the subtitle track you give it and has no translation built in. The usual route is a user script. Wordpause is the other route: a Windows tray app that reads the subtitle off the screen, so mpv needs no script.
Scripts for mpv work well once they are set up, but each one needs installing, configuring and keeping up to date, and many need a dictionary or an API key.
Wordpause works from outside the player. It sees the subtitle the way you do, pauses mpv when you point at the line, and explains the word under your cursor.
How it works in mpv
Three steps, mpv.conf untouched
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Play the film with subtitles on
Any file or stream mpv can play. Wordpause sits in the Windows tray and notices when mpv is in front.
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Hover the line, then a word
The film pauses. The word’s meaning appears with example sentences. Drag across several words to translate a phrase.
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Move away to keep watching
Playback continues from the same frame. Press Save first to keep the word for review.
Details
What mpv users ask first
No scripts, no config
Nothing goes into your scripts folder and no key bindings are changed.
Styled and burned-in subtitles
ASS styling, image subtitles and burned-in text are read the same way, as long as they are clear on screen.
Saved words
Save a word together with its subtitle line and review it later as a card.
What leaves your PC
Subtitles are read on your computer. Only the word, phrase or line you look up is sent for translation.
Questions
Before you ask
Do I need a Lua script or a plugin?
No. Wordpause is a separate Windows app that reads the subtitle on screen. mpv itself is not modified.
Does it work with image subtitles such as PGS?
Yes. Wordpause reads the picture, so it does not matter whether the subtitle is text, an image or part of the video.
Does it work on Linux or macOS?
Not yet. The app is for Windows. A macOS version is planned.
Does it work with players based on mpv?
Often, yes. Bring the player to the front, open the Wordpause tray menu and choose “Use Wordpause with …”.
Which languages does it support?
Subtitles can be read in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Polish, Ukrainian, Japanese and Korean, and translated between those languages.
Is it available yet?
Not yet. Wordpause is in development. Write to wordpause@releasium.com and we will tell you when it is ready.
How much will it cost?
There is a free plan with 30 lookups a month. Paid plans start at $3.99 a month, or $2.67 a month billed yearly. See plans