If one uses several languages in life, there may be some issues when using Siri and Apple Watch. However I found some solutions and some nice surprises. If you speak more than one language and use Apple Watch, some of theses hints may be of help.
Activating Siri on an Apple Watch can quickly be done by pressing and holding the Digital Crown. (You can also activate the watch and say "Hey Siri..." However, that behaves a little erratic when you frequently change languages.)
Changing Siri's Language is very easy on the iPhone. Just go into Settings > General > Siri > Language. Here you can quickly change language for just one request. These settings are taken into account instantly on both the iPhone and the paired Apple Watch.
For example, I have still not been able to ask English Siri for the bank Société Générale, but it works fine in French:
"Where is the nearest bank?"
If the nearest bank is not the one you want, change to French.
"Où se trouve la Société Générale?"
As there is no easy way to change Siri's language on the Apple Watch itself, it is still good to determine which language you are most likely to use, and set it using your iPhone. You can change it later, but to do that, you need to take the iPhone out of your pocket or wherever you keep it.
There is no need to worry about forgetting which language Siri expects. Siri's first screen shows some text in the language that is activated as a reminder.
Creating Notes from your Apple Watch is in theory not possible. However, you can create Reminders with text, and that is basically the same thing. Here are the words to create reminders in some languages I tried:
Activating Siri on an Apple Watch can quickly be done by pressing and holding the Digital Crown. (You can also activate the watch and say "Hey Siri..." However, that behaves a little erratic when you frequently change languages.)
Changing Siri's Language is very easy on the iPhone. Just go into Settings > General > Siri > Language. Here you can quickly change language for just one request. These settings are taken into account instantly on both the iPhone and the paired Apple Watch.
For example, I have still not been able to ask English Siri for the bank Société Générale, but it works fine in French:
"Where is the nearest bank?"
If the nearest bank is not the one you want, change to French.
"Où se trouve la Société Générale?"
As there is no easy way to change Siri's language on the Apple Watch itself, it is still good to determine which language you are most likely to use, and set it using your iPhone. You can change it later, but to do that, you need to take the iPhone out of your pocket or wherever you keep it.
There is no need to worry about forgetting which language Siri expects. Siri's first screen shows some text in the language that is activated as a reminder.
Creating Notes from your Apple Watch is in theory not possible. However, you can create Reminders with text, and that is basically the same thing. Here are the words to create reminders in some languages I tried:
- Remind me...
- Rappelle-moi ...
- Påminn mig...
- Ricordami ...
- Erinnere mich...
- Напомни мне...
- 提醒, tíxǐng...
- リマインダー...
Example: "Rappelle-moi Les bus sont verts" creates a reminder with the text "Les bus sont verts".
As it is free text, Siri may get the text slightly wrong. If so, one can keep the reminder and correct it later. Siri may also get the text completely wrong. If so, it is of course better to cancel and try again.
What Siri knows in different languages is not obvious, but one can often get an answer asking Siri things like: “What kinds of things can I ask you?” "Qu'est-ce que je peux te demander?" "Que puedo preguntar?" “可以问你什么” 「何ができるの？」etc.
A question like "What can I do with Siri?" asked on an iPhone gives a different list, which still may give some inspiration.
Replying to SMS and other messages may be confusing, as the offered language may seem random. You get a mail from someone in English, and when you tap "Reply", you may get options in French.
The snag is that Apple Watch uses the language of the keyboard set in the Messages app on your iPhone for this message conversation.
If you have a conversation for Brian Smith on you iPhone, but the iPhone language is French, then you will only be able to reply to Brian in French on your Apple Watch. Or send an emoji. If you want to reply in English, first go to the iPhone and change the keyboard there. Or reply using your iPhone.
Replying to SMS and other messages may be confusing, as the offered language may seem random. You get a mail from someone in English, and when you tap "Reply", you may get options in French.
The snag is that Apple Watch uses the language of the keyboard set in the Messages app on your iPhone for this message conversation.
If you have a conversation for Brian Smith on you iPhone, but the iPhone language is French, then you will only be able to reply to Brian in French on your Apple Watch. Or send an emoji. If you want to reply in English, first go to the iPhone and change the keyboard there. Or reply using your iPhone.
Examples of some things Siri did for me on an Apple Watch in a few different languages within a couple of minutes, changing language between each request:
