Languages

Updated 7-October-2025

Overview | Key Submission Rules | Tracking your contribution

A. Languages - Overview

• The IMDb languages section records the languages spoken in titles in the database.
• We will list any language spoken. If necessary, please use a qualifying attribute such as (a few words), (a few lines), (song), etc.

B. Key Submission Rules

• Language submissions must include an order number, even if only one language is spoken. If more than one language was spoken, order numbers in order of frequency such that the main language is number 1, the second language is number 2, etc.
• Languages with an empty order field may be displayed as the primary language for a title, even when a different language has "1" in the order field. To specify the correct primary language for a title, you must contribute the correct order for all languages on that title.
• For a series, language information should be present for both the series and episode page(s). 
• Silent Movies should be listed with a language of None and an order number of 1 ('silent' should also be added to the sound mix section). If onscreen text appears in the original version of the title, add the language that the onscreen text appears in with an order number of 2 including an attribute explaining in what form the text takes - (intertitles), for example.
  
• Please note that this refers to the original release; we do not record dubbing languages for foreign releases in this list, or DVD subtitle options.
• A list of the attributes currently being used can be displayed by clicking on the gray list icon ( ) next to the attribute field.
• Language names reflect the English name of the language; thus, the main language of Iran is Persian, not Farsi.
• Creole is not a specific language; it refers to the way a language has evolved. Some of the more common creoles listed in the database: Haitian; Morisyen (spoken in Mauritius); Kabuverdianu (Cape Verde); Kriolu (Guinea-Bissau).
• Given the complex relationship between Serbo-Croatian and related languages, our current policy is to list all variants (including Serbian and Croatian) as "Serbo-Croatian" on pre-1992 titles. On post-1992 titles the specific variant should be used and Serbo-Croatian will no longer be accepted. There are some entries in the database that do not yet conform to this policy, and we welcome assistance from contributors in correcting them.

Tracking your contribution

You can now track the status of your Languages submission and if it has not been approved, we'll tell you the reason why.

If you are using the mobile apps, mobile website or desktop website you can access this feature via the "Track your contribution" button, which has been added to the submission email receipt. Additionally, if you are using the desktop website, you can also use the "Track Contribution" button now found in your Contribution History page.