Answered5 years ago
Why is Facebook not translating Thai to English anymore?
Does anyone know why facebook is not translating Thai to English, it started several days ago?
Answer summary
Users have reported that Facebook has stopped translating Thai to English, with issues occurring for several days now. Many have attempted various fixes, such as checking language settings, but found no resolution. Some believe the translation feature was disabled due to a mistranslation incident involving sensitive content related to the Thai monarchy, which resulted in negative reactions. Users are expressing growing frustration as this issue affects their ability to communicate and access information within Thai social media groups. It appears that the translation problem is a recurring technical glitch that Facebook has yet to address.
116 repliesnewest first
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Kurt *******
Any updates? Still not working
Lynnette *******
@Kurt ******
Nope. Not working. They're still sulking over a translation error. 
Lynnette *******
See above comments: "There was a serious problem with a translation concerning a very important person. They shut the translators down as a result."
Udo *********
Same here, it’s driving me crazy 😜
Manfred *********
copy pate in google translate app
Mick ********
ugh. coz someone misspelled salute in reference to the queen the whole world has to copy and paste thai. lololol. worlds gone mad.
Kathy ****************
OPActually it went right over our heads because we thought it was talking about the 21-gun salute not 21 gun slut...
Lynnette *******
@Mick *******
it takes too long to cut paste if you're reading a long thread of comments.
Christian **********
One can still copy and paste posted content into Google Translate
Lynnette *******
@Ef **********************
as you can see, it's affected everyone. 
Martin ***********
Having same issue unfortunately.
Lynnette *******
@Martin **********
its been removed for thai due to an alleged bad translation.
Alvin **************************
Same here mate
Brian ********
I have the same problem I even looked at the settings and discovered the Thai language was not ticked for translation I think FaceBook Needs to sort this if enough of us complain maybe they will sort this problem
Lynnette *******
@Brian *******
seems its been removed because of a bad translation that's offended thai "powers that be".
Brian *****************
Google translate for Thai is horrendous. It doesn’t respect sex, pronouns are bad and verb conjugation is terrible.
Stan *******
@Brian ****************
what verb conjugation?Brian *****************
Try ask ‘if you sister had come when would we have gone to eat’
Couldn’t get close.
Translating back
‘When my sister comes, we can go eat.’
What did I do wrong?
Couldn’t get close.
Translating back
‘When my sister comes, we can go eat.’
What did I do wrong?
Frédéric ******************
@Brian ****************
That's because your sentence is not correctly structured. A question doesn't start with "if" but with "when"."When would we have gone to eat if your sister had come?"
Reverse translation: "When can we go eat if your sister comes?"
Now to be closer to the Thai way of speaking, you would have asked "At what time would we have gone to eat if your sister had come?"
Frédéric ******************
@Brian ****************
Just remember that the Thai live the present. They don't care of "what would have happened if that or this."Brian *****************
@Frédéric ****************
well done. That translates perfectly and is close to what I wanted to say. Good lesson.
Frédéric ******************
@Brian ****************
oh, this is not a translation issue but rather a cultural one. The sister can't come, problem solved. The Thai won't understand that you bother yourself with plans that were changed/cancelled. In your case, a Thai would have asked "She can't come, at what time do we go then?"Brian *****************
@Frédéric ****************
The problem was that we were going to eat with the sister in a restaurant, but she was unwell, and all I wanted to know was what time we would have left if the sister came. After 20 tries I just said
We go and eat now, I never knew what time we were meant to go. 😂
NaTasha ***************
@Brian ****************
I know a few languages, and thai grammar structure is quite simple but cannot compare to other languages, cannot use perfect tenses (have been, had been, will have been). NaTasha ***************
@Brian ****************
Thai is a different language. Perfect tenses dont exist. Try using the word "already" instead of "had come"
Nathan ********
@Brian ****************
when you structure your English language the same format as thai speak then google translate works perfectly fine. 
Joe ********
Same for
Instagram ! No more translation
Instagram ! No more translation
Yuri ***********
My Facebook translate... But samtimes funny
Lynnette *******
It's very annoying as my thai family use thai to post stories and updates, so cannot read them now. I'm missing a lot of news. Same for thai rescue groups. Cannot read.
Michael ********
@Lynnette ******
***********************************
Terry ********
Yes. I was wondering the same. It has occurred before but only lasted a few days.
Nick ****************
The Thai authorities are trying to close several fake accounts so have tweaked the settings on the control portal in Chang Wattana, it should be resolved soon.
Ryan ******
@Nick ***************
Nope...nice try though... If guessing, you really should put something in there like "I am guessing it is..."
Pete *********
Yep, what
@Dennis *********
said 😁
Dennis **********
It happens every so often whenever FB has a glitch. It is on Insta as well as FB own them It will be back in a day or so
Lynnette *******
Same for me no translation option from Thai.
Mark *************************
Does anyone know what bad translation during the queen's birthday made this happen? Links would be great.
Michael ********
@Mark ************************
even posting a link could get you into trouble, you are welcome to use googleMark *************************
@Michael *******
i cant seem to get any result regarding this matter in google... weird. Kathy ****************
OPThat was last year , just happen often.
Terry ********
@Mark ************************
Not surprising as the Thai translations are appalling often with random swear words appearing totally irrelevantly. But one can usually get the gist of what it is being said.Michael ********
@Mark ************************
I have seen it. Its quite rudeMark *************************
@Michael *******
thats weird, because if something like that happened it would be all over the net. Hopefully fb solve this problem quick because many are reliant on these simple but sometimes bad translationsMichael ********
@Mark ************************
yes actually i cannot find anything, Michael ********
@Mark ************************
oops yesMark *************************
@Michael *******
this was last year, that just means fb has screwed up many times before.Michael ********
@Mark ************************
********************************************************************************************
*****
55/fb-told-to-apologise-for-mistranslationMichael ********
@Mark ************************
**********************************************************************************************************
Michael ********
@Mark ************************
if you are in Thailand its highly doubtful you will.
Rowena *****
same here
Steve **********
Or hang out with Malania, she cant speak 32 languages.
Steve **********
Your young. Imagine a short time ago when such a feature didnt exist. Now everything is automatically and gramatically translated.
When I first started travelling would either have dictionary or hire a translator.
Now they are both in your cell phone.
When I first started travelling would either have dictionary or hire a translator.
Now they are both in your cell phone.
Terry ********
@Steve *********
"gramatically translated"? The Thai? You must be joking...555.Steve **********
@Terry *******
point taken, after many years you get used to itSteve **********
Terry Penney.. mai kao jai
Terry ********
@Steve *********
You are becoming Thai...grammatically...555.
Ronald *****
Now that I know all are in the same situation as me(no translation)..I feel so much better..😂😂😂
Michael *******
Down to an innappropriate mistranslation on the queens birthday as I understand 🥺
Jason ***********
@Michael ******
what did it say?
Paul ********
@Michael ******
seriously?Michael *******
@Paul *******
yes...seriously 👍Paul ********
@Michael ******
actually looked into it yesterday after I saw your post and you’re absolutely right, although it has to be asked how the word “slut” was mistakenly translated TWICE and not spotted 🤔
Luc ************
@Michael ******
correct. One letter made the difference. 🙈Ryan ******
Someone's feelings were hurt by a translation.
Tod *********
Well
@Ry**
you'd have to admit that it was kind of a terrible "lost in translation" moment :O :P Mark *************************
I thought my phone crapped out. I can see translations in other languages like italian and portuguese but no thai. Glad Im not alone. Im in a lot of thai groups and heavily depend on translation. Now I gotta bug my wife every damn time I want to know somethin.
Angus *********
Yes my translation have disappeared to ?
Tim *******
Disappointed. I was participating happily in a number of Thai motorcycle groups. Lots of goodwill and information even with the poor translation. Now lost to Thai and foreigner. Even worse for Thai as most of the world uses English. I can always cut and paste but not suitable for casual reading.
Rollo ************************
I’m glad it’s not just me!! I started to think it was something I was doing wrong until I realized that it translates every language but the one we need... “Thai” 😂
Kimberley ********
Mine also not working for last 2 days
Robert *******
I did just about all the above.
Dev *******
Me too🤔🤔?
Ben *********
Lost in translations?
Tony **********
Me too
Tony *********
Relax .it will come back
Over the years it's been doing it
Comes and Go's
Over the years it's been doing it
Comes and Go's
Alan *********
This seems to happen every year. FB step up and fix this.😱😱😱😱
Ric *******
Me too. Only in my messages
Alexis *********
Check and see if ur set as a beta tester, normally that's why
Kathy ****************
OPHow do I do that.. It just quit translating one day..
Gary *******
Same problem here. Did update still the same. Sent message to fb about issue. Response was photo you complained about is within community standards. 3 more messages no response.
David **********
I've had this for months now with google. Even though I have settings set to translate to English, the Google Search is always in Thai, only changes to English after I make a page selection.
Michael ********
@David *********
need setting to google.com not google.co.th with translation, or whatever google you wantDavid **********
@Michael *******
OK thanks I'll try that! Michael ********
@David *********
thats nothing to do with this particular instanceMick ********
drivin me nuts
M *****************
Updated mine is working perfectly
Mark *************************
@M ****************
so yours is the only one that is working and its not workin for the rest of the world. Mmmkay. 
Jennifer **************
I made that same comment a few weeks ago! The translation is very poor so totally understand!
Stephen *******
No fix yet
Thomas ************
I have noticed this also…any fix?
Michael ********
Apparently it Translated something about the Queen and the English came out very insulting
William *******
@Michael *******
Correct. There were articles in many major newspapers worldwide. The translation was very crudely insulting.
Steve ***********
@Michael *******
so it translated it accurately?Michael ********
@Steve **********
Not that i am aware of.Steve ***********
@Michael *******
I'll be right Michael ********
@Steve **********
aware but the predicament you could put yourself in for answering. Why would I
Don ********
@Jeffrey ***********
apparently 
Nigel *********
@Jeffrey ***********
I take it you're not in thailand... very courageous re posting that if you are. Might get admin in a bit of hot water though.. 😶
Garrett ***********
@Jef****
Hahahahhaha, that's awfull Garrett ***********
@Mic****
Hahahaha really? 
Gyorgy ********
Thai language can be very difficult to translate the correct meaning into English. It is also meaning and understanding. I have had lots of problems in the past with incorrect translation.
Michael ********
@Garrett **********
yes really its under investigation nowMichael ********
Someone posted link below
Daniel ************
@Michael *******
please post an official FB statement - Michael ********
@Daniel ***********
someone just posted itMichael ********
@Daniel ***********
notice the start of my sentence "Apparently"Michael ********
@Daniel ***********
Was to me as that was first time seeing that story, i had only heard about it in Thai language groupsDaniel ************
@Michael *******
well that wasnt apparently 😉 - Kathy ****************
OPI have tried all the ways they say to correct it, however it doesn't even show Thai as a language to translate....
André **********
@Kathy ***************
Das liegt daram das es nicht mehr übersetzt werden darf. Die genaueren hintergründe kenne ich auch nicht. Es gab scheinbar fehlübersetzungen im zusammenhang mit dem thailändischen government oder königshaus. Gilt scheinbar auch für andere Dienste wie Facebook. Activity
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