Use the language you think in
If you live in a second language, you may notice some things only come out right in your first one. A journal is for you, so there's no audience to translate for. If one entry comes out in one language and the next in another, that's fine. What matters is that it sounds like you.
Set the speech language in Dawn Light
Dawn Light writes down any language your device's speech model supports. The list in the picker is that list.
- Tap the gear at the top of Today to open Settings
- Under Recording, tap Language. It starts on "Same as this device"
- Choose the language you'll speak
- Record your first entry. You'll see "Getting" and your language name while Apple's speech model downloads
- After that one download, recording and transcripts work with no connection
What works in which language
| Feature | Languages |
|---|---|
| Recording and transcripts | Any language your device's speech model supports |
| Typed entries and search | Any language you can type |
| Summaries, titles and Ask (Plus) | The languages Apple Intelligence supports |
| The app's own buttons and screens | English |
Languages Apple Intelligence supports
In October 2026, Apple lists English, Danish, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish, Vietnamese, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Japanese and Korean. Apple also asks for your device language and Siri language to match. An entry in a language outside that list is saved with every word, just without a summary.
If you switch between languages
- Change the Language picker before an entry in your other language, then switch back
- Keep each entry to one language. Words in a second language may come out wrong
- Type the entry instead when you want to mix languages freely
- On devices without Apple's newer speech engine, Dawn Light uses standard dictation, where some words may need a fix afterwards
Fix a word without losing the original
Names and borrowed words sometimes come out spelled wrong. Open the entry, tap the More button and choose Edit. Then correct the words. Dawn Light keeps your exact words as they were recorded, so you can always go back to them.
Questions about journaling in another language
Can I journal in a language I'm learning?
Yes. Speaking a few minutes a day in a new language is good practice, and the transcript shows which words came through clearly. Set the speech language to the one you're learning.
Does voice journaling work offline in my language?
In Dawn Light, yes, after the first recording in that language. That first time downloads Apple's speech model once, which needs a connection.
Why wasn't my entry summarized?
Summaries only work in languages Apple Intelligence supports, and they need Plus and a supported device. The full transcript is always saved.
Keep a journal in your own words
Talk in your own language and watch your words appear on the screen, written down on your iPhone. Choose the language in Settings, and after the first entry it works with no connection.
Get Dawn Light freeUnlimited entries, transcripts, search and iCloud sync. For iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch. Works with iOS 26, iPadOS 26 and watchOS 26 or later.