--- title: "How to reply to a review written in another language" url: https://reviewnudge.app/replies/review-in-another-language/ published: 2026-09-29 updated: 2026-09-29 author: "Jack Stovell" author_profile: https://i.hilyt.it/jack publisher: "Adapt Progress Evolve Limited" summary: "Make sure you understand the review properly first, then reply briefly and simply, in their language only if a fluent speaker can check the wording." tone: negative language: en-GB --- # How to reply to a review written in another language > Make sure you understand the review properly first, then reply briefly and simply, in their language only if a fluent speaker can check the wording. If someone leaves a review in a language you don't speak, understand it properly before you reply. Use a translation tool or ask a colleague who speaks the language. Then keep your reply short and simple, and only write in their language if you can be sure of the wording. ## What to say - **Understand it first.** Run the review through a translation tool, or ask a colleague who speaks the language. Don't reply to a review you've only half read. - **Reply in their language only if you're confident.** It's a nice courtesy, but a badly worded reply is worse than none. Have a fluent speaker check any machine translation before it goes live. - **Or use English plus a short line.** A reply in English with a simple thank you in their language works well, and there's very little that can go wrong. - **Keep it short and plain.** Idioms and jokes translate badly, so stick to simple, literal sentences. - **Stick to facts you know.** The same rules apply as for any review: say only what you can confirm, and keep anyone's private details out of it. ## What not to say - **Don't make a point of their language.** Skip anything like "Thanks for writing in Polish!" It can feel odd, and it draws attention to something that isn't the point. - **Don't guess where they're from.** A review in Spanish doesn't tell you the reviewer's country, or whether they live nearby. Leave it out. - **Don't use slang, idioms or jokes.** They rarely survive translation, and you won't spot the damage if you don't speak the language. - **Don't paste in a machine translation unchecked.** If you can't verify it, go with English and a short line instead. - **Don't offer deals or share private details.** Google says replies shouldn't be used for promotions, and you shouldn't share the reviewer's personal information. ## Example replies ### Hotel: two-star review in Spanish, room was cold *Fictional example.* A guest leaves a 2-star review in Spanish saying (translated) that the room was cold and the heating did not work. The business has no other facts beyond the review. The manager, Rosa, speaks Spanish and writes the reply herself. > Gracias por su opinión. Lamentamos que la habitación estuviera fría y que la calefacción no funcionara. Si desea comentarnos más detalles, puede contactarnos por teléfono o por correo electrónico. > > Rosa > > (Thank you for your feedback. We are sorry the room was cold and the heating did not work. If you would like to tell us more, you can contact us by phone or by email. > > Rosa) ### Nail salon: five-star review in Polish, lovely atmosphere *Fictional example.* A customer leaves a 5-star review in Polish saying (translated) "lovely atmosphere, I will be back". The business has no other facts, and nobody on the team speaks Polish, so the reply is in English with a short, simple Polish thank you. > Thank you for the kind words, we're really glad you liked the atmosphere. Dziękujemy! We'd be happy to see you again. > > Kate ## Checking a machine translation If you do want to reply in the reviewer's language, treat the machine version as a draft. Write your reply in plain English first, with no slang, and translate it. Then paste the result into a different translation tool and translate it back into English. Compare the two. If the back-translation still says what you meant, that's a good sign. If it comes out strange, or the meaning has shifted, simplify your English and try again. Shorter sentences almost always translate better. A machine check isn't the same as a fluent speaker's check, though. If the wording matters, as it does with a complaint, ask someone who speaks the language to read it. If nobody can, fall back on English plus a short line. ## Questions people ask ### Do I have to reply in the reviewer's language? No. Replying in their language is a courtesy, but only when you're confident of the wording. If you can't be sure, reply in English and add a short, simple line in their language, such as a thank you. That's clear and safe, and it still shows you noticed. ### Is it fine to use a translation tool to read the review? Yes, it's a sensible way to understand what the customer has written before you reply. Read the translated version carefully, and if the review is a complaint, ask a colleague who speaks the language to confirm the meaning where you can. Don't reply to something you've only half understood. ### Should I mention that the review was in another language? Best not to. Pointing it out can feel awkward, and you shouldn't assume where the reviewer is from just because of the language they wrote in. Reply to what they said, keep it simple, and treat it like any other review. ### Do the usual rules still apply? Yes, all of them. Stick to facts you can confirm, keep private details out, stay polite, and don't offer deals in your reply. Google also notifies the reviewer when you reply, and they can still change their review afterwards. ## Sources - [Google Business Profile Help: Tips to get more reviews (includes reply tips)](https://support.google.com/business/answer/3474122)