Lyrics Translation provides line-by-line translations synchronized with the song, while Lyrics Pronunciation offers transliteration or script-based guides to aid reading and singing, both appearing alongside original lyrics when available.

Users access translations via the Now Playing view under Lyrics > Translation and Pronunciation > Show Translation, with availability depending on the song and settings.

The feature uses machine learning refined by language experts to capture meaning, emotion, cultural context, and lyrical intent, addressing non-literal aspects of lyrics common in music.

Pronunciation supports multiple writing systems and transliteration formats, with expanded language pairings added in 2026, including Arabic, Hangul, Katakana, Japanese, and Mandarin Chinese, among others.

Translation should be seen as interpretive rather than definitive, as idioms and cultural references may yield multiple valid interpretations, and keeping original and translated lines together helps comprehension while preserving artistic intent.

Using Preferred Languages in Settings determines which translation appears, and translation availability may vary across devices due to language lists, software versions, and catalog rights.

Translation is not guaranteed for every song; availability requires original lyrics, rights from rights holders, and appropriate processing, with some tracks lacking translations due to licensing or format issues.

Apple Music now offers Lyrics Translation and Lyrics Pronunciation within the iOS Music app, eliminating the need to leave playback to understand international songs.

The feature complements Apple Music Sing and enhances discovery of international music by providing continuous lyric context during playback rather than requiring separate lookups.