# Urdu speech-to-text API (اردو)

> KolWrite transcribes Urdu audio and video into right-to-left Urdu script with one API call: send "language": "ur" and get timed segments with speaker labels as JSON, TXT or SRT. Oracle models translate Urdu into English or 99 other languages.

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

## Transcribe Urdu with one request

Set `language` to `ur` 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/interview-ur.m4a", "model": "oracle", "language": "ur", "include_diarization": true, "output_format": "json"}'
```

Translate Urdu 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/interview-ur.m4a", "model": "oracle_mini", "language": "ur", "translate_to": "en", "output_format": "srt"}'
```

## Urdu at a glance

| Property | Details |
| --- | --- |
| API code | `ur` |
| Native name | اردو |
| Writing direction | Right to left |
| Automatic detection | Yes: omit `language` or send `"auto"` |
| Translate Urdu audio into | Any of the 100 supported languages, on Oracle models |
| Translate other languages into Urdu | Yes: `translate_to: "ur"` 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 Urdu transcription

- Urdu is written right to left, traditionally in Nastaliq style. Use a font with good Nastaliq or Naskh support and `dir="rtl"` when you display transcripts.
- Spoken Urdu and Hindi overlap heavily. Send `ur` to get Urdu script and `hi` to get Devanagari.
- Pakistani speech mixes in English. Send `ur` explicitly on mixed recordings.

## Where teams use Urdu transcription

- Urdu news, talk shows and religious lectures with subtitles.
- Contact centers in Pakistan and for the Urdu-speaking diaspora.
- Interviews translated to English with `translate_to: "en"`.

## Choosing a model

Start with `oracle` (US$1.44 per hour) for production Urdu 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 Urdu 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

### Urdu or Hindi: which code should I use?

Choose by the script you need: `ur` for Urdu script, `hi` for Devanagari.

### Can I translate Urdu to English?

Yes, on an Oracle model with `translate_to: "en"`.

### Does the transcript include Nastaliq formatting?

No. It is plain Unicode Urdu text; Nastaliq is a font choice in your display.

## Related pages

- [Hindi speech-to-text](https://console.kolwrite.com/speech-to-text/hindi)
- [Persian speech-to-text](https://console.kolwrite.com/speech-to-text/persian)
- [Arabic speech-to-text](https://console.kolwrite.com/speech-to-text/arabic)
- [Media, podcasts & subtitles](https://console.kolwrite.com/use-cases/media)
- [Call centers & sales calls](https://console.kolwrite.com/use-cases/call-centers)
- [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