Amazon offers a multilingual mode for Alexa devices. By enabling it, you can communicate with your Echo speaker in multiple languages, as the name suggests. So if you want to Alexa speaking Spanish, you can do.

In the US, it allows Alexa to switch between English and Spanish. For instance, if you have Alexa set to English, yet ask a question in Spanish, Alexa will either respond in Spanish or ask if you want to change your language settings.

Also: What is Alexa calling and messaging and how does it work?

How to enable multilingual mode on Alexa

To enable multilingual mode, just ask Alexa to speak in multiple languages or change the default language. You can do so on an Echo or Alexa device. Try saying: "Hey Alexa, speak English and Spanish." Then, you can speak to Alexa in either language, and she will respond in those languages.

You can also choose a bilingual setting manually from the app. Follow the steps below to enable different languages on any of your Echo devices:

  1. Open your Alexa app and choose 'Devices'
  2. Choose 'Echo and Alexa'
  3. On the next screen select the device you want to change settings for
  4. Tap the 'Settings' cog in the corner
  5. Scroll down until you find 'Language'
  6. Under 'other languages' you'll find a number of different bilingual modes
  7. Choose the combination you want and tap 'sync'

Once it's synced your Echo should update and respond to both the languages you've selected in the multilingual mode.

How to use Alexa's multilingual mode

With multilingual mode, you could start by asking Alexa something in English, and then you could seamlessly speak in Spanish. She'll respond and reply in Spanish. You can say any command you normally would, like ask for the news, or control your smart home devices, set reminders, and launch skills.

Just remember any on-device text, like on an Echo Show, will appear in your default/primary language.

echo dot 4th gen -1
Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen)

The sound quality is better than it ever has been, with the same capabilities as its bigger, more expensive siblings.

Where is multilingual mode available?

When multilingual mode rolled out in 2019, Amazon said US speakers could switch between English and Spanish. Since then it has rolled out to a number of other regions and has expanded its bilingual settings massively. You can use it in the US, UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, India, Mexico and Brazil.

What Alexa languages are available?

This often depends on which country your Alexa is set up in. In Germany, for instance, there's German and English or German and French options. In the US or UK you get a number of other options including German, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese and Hindi.

Want to know more?

Amazon has a blog post and a support page with more information about how multilingual mode works. If you need to set or change your default/primary language on an Echo device, Amazon has a support page for that, too.