# Spanish speech-to-text API (español)

> KolWrite transcribes Spanish audio from Spain and Latin America through one API call: send "language": "es" and get segments with word timings, speaker labels and SRT subtitles. Oracle models translate Spanish into English or 99 other languages in the same job.

Last updated: 2026-10-08 · HTML: https://console.kolwrite.com/speech-to-text/spanish

## Transcribe Spanish with one request

Set `language` to `es` and start a job. Poll `GET /transcribe/{jobId}` for the result, or pass a `webhook_url`.

```bash
curl https://app.kolwrite.com/transcribe \
  -H "x-api-key: $KOLWRITE_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"audio_url": "https://example.com/entrevista-es.m4a", "model": "oracle", "language": "es", "include_diarization": true, "output_format": "json"}'
```

Translate Spanish audio into English in the same job (Oracle models only):

```bash
curl https://app.kolwrite.com/transcribe \
  -H "x-api-key: $KOLWRITE_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"audio_url": "https://example.com/entrevista-es.m4a", "model": "oracle_mini", "language": "es", "translate_to": "en", "output_format": "srt"}'
```

## Spanish at a glance

| Property | Details |
| --- | --- |
| API code | `es` |
| Native name | español |
| Writing direction | Left to right |
| Automatic detection | Yes: omit `language` or send `"auto"` |
| Translate Spanish audio into | Any of the 100 supported languages, on Oracle models |
| Translate other languages into Spanish | Yes: `translate_to: "es"` on Oracle models |
| Output | JSON (segments, word timings, speakers), TXT, SRT |
| Price | US$0.48 (Base) to US$3.60 (Oracle Max) per audio hour; US$1.44 on Oracle |

## What to know about Spanish transcription

- One code, `es`, covers European and Latin American Spanish. There is no regional setting; vocabulary and accents from Mexico, the Caribbean, the Southern Cone and Spain are all sent as `es`.
- US recordings often mix Spanish and English. Set the language that dominates the recording; auto-detection picks one language per file.
- Spanish punctuation includes opening ¿ and ¡. If you compare transcripts with reference text, normalize punctuation first.

## Where teams use Spanish transcription

- Contact centers serving Latin America and US Spanish speakers.
- Spanish-language podcasts, YouTube and broadcast subtitles.
- Bilingual US education and public meetings, translated with `translate_to: "en"`.

## Choosing a model

Start with `oracle` (US$1.44 per hour) for production Spanish audio. Use `base` (US$0.48) for clean, single-speaker recordings at volume, `oracle_mini` (US$0.96) for the cheapest translation, and `oracle_pro` or `oracle_max` for noisy or difficult audio. KolWrite does not publish a Spanish accuracy figure for this API, so test a sample of your own recordings before committing. Full comparison: [models and prices](https://console.kolwrite.com/models).

## Questions and answers

### Does KolWrite handle Latin American Spanish?

Yes. All Spanish varieties use the code `es`. Test with recordings from the countries you serve, since accents and vocabulary vary.

### Can I translate Spanish audio to English?

Yes, on an Oracle model with `translate_to: "en"`. The cheapest option is `oracle_mini`.

### What output formats are available?

JSON with segments and word timings, plain text, or SRT subtitles, chosen per request with `output_format`.

## Related pages

- [Portuguese speech-to-text](https://console.kolwrite.com/speech-to-text/portuguese)
- [English speech-to-text](https://console.kolwrite.com/speech-to-text/english)
- [French speech-to-text](https://console.kolwrite.com/speech-to-text/french)
- [Call centers & sales calls](https://console.kolwrite.com/use-cases/call-centers)
- [Media, podcasts & subtitles](https://console.kolwrite.com/use-cases/media)
- [Supported languages](https://console.kolwrite.com/languages/)

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Get an API key: https://console.kolwrite.com/auth · API documentation: https://console.kolwrite.com/public_api_docs · llms.txt: https://console.kolwrite.com/llms.txt