Guide · Universities & Higher Education · By the AutoScribble Team · Published 22 September 2026
Choosing words per minute for each language
Short answer
Plan a script by the natural speaking pace of its language. AutoScribble uses around 150 words a minute for English, 165–170 for Spanish, French and Italian, 130–135 for German, Polish and Turkish, about 145 for Hindi and Urdu, and counts characters for Chinese (about 240) and Japanese (about 300). Multiply by your target minutes for a draft word count.
Who this guide is for
Script writers, lecturers and producers writing to a fixed length. It's part of our universities & higher education resources.
What you'll need
- Target length
- Script language
Step by step
- 1
Find the pace
Use the table below for your language.
- 2
Multiply
For a 2-minute Spanish video: 170 × 2 ≈ 340 words.
- 3
Leave breathing room
Aim slightly under so scenes can land without rushing.
- 4
Paste and check
AutoScribble estimates the spoken length and warns you if it won't fit.
Planning speeds used by AutoScribble
| Language | Per minute | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| English | 150 | words |
| Spanish, Italian | 170 | words |
| French, Portuguese | 165 | words |
| Dutch | 145 | words |
| German, Turkish | 130 | words |
| Polish | 135 | words |
| Arabic | 140 | words |
| Hindi, Urdu | 145 | words |
| Chinese | 240 | characters |
| Japanese | 300 | characters |
Planning estimates, not guarantees for every voice.
Copy the AutoScribble prompt
Complete prompt
Write a 90-second whiteboard video script in Italian (about 250 words) explaining the topic below for first-year university students, one idea per scene. [Describe the topic]
Common mistakes
- Using English word counts for every language
- Ignoring character-based counting for Chinese and Japanese
Review before publishing
- A fluent speaker of the target language has read the script aloud
- Names, numbers, dates and currency follow local convention
- On-screen words are short and spelt correctly in the finished video
- Narration and script are in the same language — no mixed recordings
- The video still fits the length you chose once narrated
Questions
Why are Chinese and Japanese counted in characters?
They don't separate words with spaces, so characters give a more reliable timing estimate.
What if my script is too long?
You'll see a warning before anything is made. Trim it or choose a longer length.