--- source_url: "https://docs.vapi.ai/assistants/examples/multilingual-agent" title: "Multilingual support agent | Vapi" mirrored_at: 2026-08-14T03:39:37.931Z host: docs.vapi.ai cited_in_42a: true mirror_canonical: "https://index.42a.ai/docs.vapi.ai/assistants/examples/multilingual-agent" --- > **Original source:** https://docs.vapi.ai/assistants/examples/multilingual-agent ## Overview Build a dynamic customer support agent for GlobalTech International that automatically detects and responds in the customer’s language (English, Spanish, or French) during conversation, with seamless language switching and real-time adaptation. **What You’ll Build:** - Assistant with automatic multilingual transcription - Dynamic voice adaptation for detected languages - Real-time language switching during conversations - Phone number setup for seamless international support - Advanced prompting for cultural context awareness **Alternative Approach**: For a more structured multilingual experience with explicit language selection, see our [Squad-based multilingual support](https://docs.vapi.ai/squads/examples/multilingual-support) that guides customers through language selection and dedicated conversation paths. ## Prerequisites ## Scenario We will be creating a dynamic multilingual customer support agent for GlobalTech International, a technology company serving customers across North America, Europe, and Latin America. Unlike structured language selection, this agent automatically detects the customer’s language from their speech and can switch languages mid-conversation, providing a truly seamless multilingual experience. * * * ## 1\. Create a Multilingual Knowledge Base [1](https://docs.vapi.ai/assistants/examples/multilingual-agent#download-the-spreadsheets) ### Download the spreadsheets [2](https://docs.vapi.ai/assistants/examples/multilingual-agent#upload-the-files) ### Upload the files ###### Dashboard ###### TypeScript (Server SDK) ###### Python (Server SDK) ###### cURL 1. Navigate to **Files** in your [Vapi Dashboard](https://dashboard.vapi.ai/) 2. Click **Choose file** and upload all three CSV files 3. Note the file IDs for use in creating multilingual tools * * * ## 2\. Create a Multilingual Assistant ###### Dashboard ###### TypeScript (Server SDK) ###### Python (Server SDK) ###### cURL [2](https://docs.vapi.ai/assistants/examples/multilingual-agent#create-a-new-assistant) ### Create a new assistant - Click `Create Assistant`. - Select `Blank Template` as your starting point. - Change assistant name to `GlobalTech Support Agent`. * * * ## 3\. Configure Multilingual Transcription [1](https://docs.vapi.ai/assistants/examples/multilingual-agent#set-up-automatic-language-detection) ### Set up automatic language detection ###### Dashboard ###### TypeScript (Server SDK) ###### Python (Server SDK) ###### cURL 1. In your assistant configuration, find the **Transcriber** section 2. **Provider**: Select `Deepgram` (recommended for speed and accuracy) 3. **Model**: Choose `Nova 2` or `Nova 3` 4. **Language**: Select `Multi` (enables automatic language detection) 5. **Alternative**: Use `Google` provider with `Multilingual` language setting * * * ## 4\. Configure Multilingual Voice Synthesis [1](https://docs.vapi.ai/assistants/examples/multilingual-agent#set-up-language-specific-voices) ### Set up language-specific voices ###### Dashboard ###### TypeScript (Server SDK) ###### Python (Server SDK) ###### cURL 1. In the **Voice** section of your assistant: 2. **Provider**: Select `Azure` (best multilingual coverage) 3. **Voice**: Choose primary voice `en-US-AriaNeural` (English) 4. **Add fallback voices**: - Spanish: `es-ES-ElviraNeural` (Spain) or `es-MX-DaliaNeural` (Mexico) - French: `fr-FR-DeniseNeural` (France) or `fr-CA-SylvieNeural` (Canada) 5. **Alternative providers**: ElevenLabs, OpenAI, or PlayHT all support multiple languages * * * ## 5\. Configure System Prompt [1](https://docs.vapi.ai/assistants/examples/multilingual-agent#update-the-multilingual-system-prompt) ### Update the multilingual system prompt First, create this comprehensive system prompt: Then update your assistant: ###### Dashboard ###### TypeScript (Server SDK) ###### Python (Server SDK) ###### cURL Copy the system prompt above and paste it into the `System Prompt` field in your assistant configuration. * * * ## 6\. Add Multilingual Tools ###### Dashboard ###### TypeScript (Server SDK) ###### Python (Server SDK) ###### cURL [2](https://docs.vapi.ai/assistants/examples/multilingual-agent#create-customer-lookup-tool) ### Create customer lookup tool - Click `Create Tool`. - Select `Function` as your tool type. - Change tool name to `lookup_customer`. - Add function description: - Add knowledge base: - Name: `customers` - Description: `Customer database with multilingual support preferences` - File IDs: `` [3](https://docs.vapi.ai/assistants/examples/multilingual-agent#create-product-information-tool) ### Create product information tool - Click `Create Tool`. - Select `Function` as your tool type. - Change tool name to `get_product_info`. - Add function description: - Add knowledge base: - Name: `products` - Description: `Product catalog with multilingual descriptions` - File IDs: `` [4](https://docs.vapi.ai/assistants/examples/multilingual-agent#create-support-articles-tool) ### Create support articles tool - Click `Create Tool`. - Select `Function` as your tool type. - Change tool name to `search_support_articles`. - Add function description: - Add knowledge base: - Name: `support_articles` - Description: `Multilingual support documentation and troubleshooting guides` - File IDs: `` [5](https://docs.vapi.ai/assistants/examples/multilingual-agent#add-tools-to-assistant) ### Add tools to assistant - Click `Assistants` in the left sidebar. - Select your `GlobalTech Support Agent`. - Scroll down to the `Tools` section and expand it. - Add all three tools: `lookup_customer`, `get_product_info`, and `search_support_articles`. - Click `Publish` to save your changes. * * * ## 7\. Set Up Phone Number ###### Dashboard ###### TypeScript (Server SDK) ###### Python (Server SDK) ###### cURL [1](https://docs.vapi.ai/assistants/examples/multilingual-agent#navigate-to-phone-numbers) ### Navigate to Phone Numbers Open your [dashboard.vapi.ai](https://dashboard.vapi.ai/) and click `Phone Numbers` in the left sidebar. [2](https://docs.vapi.ai/assistants/examples/multilingual-agent#create-a-new-phone-number) ### Create a new phone number - Click `Create Phone Number`. - Choose `Free Vapi Number` to get started. - Select your preferred area code (e.g., `212` for New York). [3](https://docs.vapi.ai/assistants/examples/multilingual-agent#configure-the-phone-number) ### Configure the phone number - Set the `Phone Number Name` to `GlobalTech International Support`. - Under `Inbound Settings`, find `Assistant` dropdown and select `GlobalTech Support Agent`. - **Optional**: Configure advanced settings: - Enable call recording for quality assurance - Set up voicemail detection - Configure business hours if needed - Changes are saved automatically. * * * ## Alternative: Squad-Based Language Selection For a more structured approach with explicit language selection, see our comprehensive [Squad-based multilingual support](https://docs.vapi.ai/squads/examples/multilingual-support) guide. This approach lets customers choose their language at the start of the call, then routes them to dedicated conversation paths optimized for each language. [1](https://docs.vapi.ai/assistants/examples/multilingual-agent#create-a-workflow-with-language-selection) ### Create a workflow with language selection 1 const languageSelectionWorkflow = await vapi.workflows.create({ 2 name: "GlobalTech Multilingual Workflow", 3 nodes: \[ 4 { 5 id: "language\_selection", 6 type: "conversation", 7 firstMessage: "Hello! Hola! Bonjour! Welcome to GlobalTech International. Please say 'English', 'Español', or 'Français' to continue in your preferred language.", 8 systemPrompt: "Listen for the customer's language preference and extract it.", 9 extractVariables: \[ 10 { 11 name: "preferred\_language", 12 type: "string", 13 description: "Customer's preferred language", 14 enum: \["english", "spanish", "french"\] 15 } 16 \] 17 }, 18 { 19 id: "english\_support", 20 type: "conversation", 21 condition: "preferred\_language == 'english'", 22 firstMessage: "Thank you for choosing English. I'm Maria, your support representative. How can I help you today?", 23 systemPrompt: "You are Maria, GlobalTech's English support agent. Be direct, friendly, and professional.", 24 voice: { 25 provider: "azure", 26 voiceId: "en-US-AriaNeural" 27 } 28 }, 29 { 30 id: "spanish\_support", 31 type: "conversation", 32 condition: "preferred\_language == 'spanish'", 33 firstMessage: "Gracias por elegir español. Soy María, su representante de soporte. ¿Cómo puedo ayudarle hoy?", 34 systemPrompt: "Eres María, agente de soporte en español de GlobalTech. Sé cálida, respetuosa y usa 'usted' inicialmente.", 35 voice: { 36 provider: "azure", 37 voiceId: "es-ES-ElviraNeural" 38 } 39 }, 40 { 41 id: "french\_support", 42 type: "conversation", 43 condition: "preferred\_language == 'french'", 44 firstMessage: "Merci d'avoir choisi le français. Je suis Maria, votre représentante du support. Comment puis-je vous aider aujourd'hui?", 45 systemPrompt: "Vous êtes Maria, agent de support français de GlobalTech. Soyez polie, courtoise et formelle.", 46 voice: { 47 provider: "azure", 48 voiceId: "fr-FR-DeniseNeural" 49 } 50 } 51 \] 52 }); [2](https://docs.vapi.ai/assistants/examples/multilingual-agent#benefits-of-workflow-approach) ### Benefits of workflow approach - **Clearer language selection**: Customers explicitly choose their language - **Dedicated language paths**: Each language has its own conversation flow - **Optimized voices**: Language-specific voices for better quality - **Easier maintenance**: Separate prompts and logic for each language - **Better analytics**: Track language preferences and usage patterns ## Provider Support Summary **Speech-to-Text (Transcription):** - **Gladia**: Solaria, automatic language detection and code-switching. - **Deepgram**: Nova 2, Nova 3 with “Multi” language setting - **Google**: Latest models with “Multilingual” language setting - **All other providers**: Single language only, no automatic detection **Text-to-Speech (Voice Synthesis):** - **Azure**: 400+ voices across 140+ languages (recommended for coverage) - **ElevenLabs**: 30+ languages with premium quality - **OpenAI**: 50+ languages with consistent quality - **PlayHT**: 80+ languages, cost-effective - **All providers**: Support multiple languages natively **Language Models:** - **All major LLMs** (GPT-4o, Claude, Gemini, Llama, etc.): Native multilingual support ## Next Steps Just like that, you’ve built a dynamic multilingual customer support agent that automatically detects and responds in the customer’s language with seamless mid-conversation language switching. Consider reading the following guides to further enhance your multilingual implementation: - [**Squad-based Multilingual Support**](https://docs.vapi.ai/squads/examples/multilingual-support) - Compare with structured language selection approach - [**Multilingual Configuration Guide**](https://docs.vapi.ai/customization/multilingual) - Learn about all multilingual configuration options - [**Custom Tools**](https://docs.vapi.ai/tools/custom-tools) - Build advanced multilingual tools and integrations Need help with multilingual implementation? Chat with the team on our [Discord](https://discord.com/invite/pUFNcf2WmH) or mention us on [X/Twitter](https://x.com/Vapi_AI).