Explainer videos often look simple on the surface.
Clear visuals, structured messaging, a purposeful tone.
But once production starts, voiceover quickly becomes a balancing act.
Timing, rhythm and intention all interact, and even small decisions can shape how smoothly a message lands.
This guide is practical by design.
It’s based on what typically comes up in real explainer projects, especially when content is adapted across languages and markets.
The goal is simple: help your French voiceover fit naturally into the video, without friction, and without last-minute fixes.
Why French voiceover is often tricky in explainer videos
Most explainer videos are written in English first.
French usually comes later, as a localisation step.
At that point, many elements are already fixed:
- animation timing
- scene length
- visual rhythm
The voiceover has to adapt to those constraints, not the other way around.
This is often where small tensions become audible.
French also tends to take more space than English.
That’s not a translation issue — it’s simply how the language works.
Why translation length impacts French voiceover timing
On explainer projects, these are usually the points that start to matter once recording begins.
French often ends up 15–20% longer than English for the same content.
Sentence structure and phrasing naturally add words.
In an explainer video, those extra words matter:
- pauses become tighter
- rhythm can feel rushed
- listening comfort drops quickly
Word count constraints in French explainer localisation
Asking for roughly the same number of words in French and English is a realistic and helpful constraint.
When translators know that timing matters, they can:
- prioritise information
- simplify phrasing
- keep the message aligned with the visuals
It’s not about restricting translation.
It’s about helping the whole production flow more smoothly.
Using tables to control rhythm in explainer video localisation
Even when total word count matches, timing issues can still appear.
Why?
Because imbalance often happens scene by scene, not globally.
For example:
- 40 words in English on one scene
- 75 words in French on the same visual
- then the opposite on the next one
That kind of distribution creates rhythm breaks, even if the full script length looks fine.
A simple and very effective approach is to split the script into a table:
- one row per scene or shot
- one column per language
- a similar number of words per row
Excel or Google Sheets both work perfectly.
What matters is giving translators clear, visible timing references.
This helps keep rhythm consistent throughout the video.
When French explainer scripts become too long
Sometimes, despite all precautions, the French version still pushes the limits.
Voiceover adjustments can help — up to a point.
Reducing pauses around commas or tightening phrasing can maintain flow, but clarity should always come first.
Another useful tool is controlled elision.
Not casual shortcuts, but natural speech patterns that slightly reduce syllables without affecting understanding.
For example:
- je ne sais pas → je n’sais pas
- je ne peux pas → je n’peux pas
One elision, not two.
The goal is to preserve rhythm while keeping the delivery clear and professional.
Voiceover can support a script.
It can’t compensate for structural overload.
Adjusting French voiceover delivery without breaking rhythm
When timing is tight, delivery choices become essential.
Small adjustments often make a big difference:
- smoothing pauses suggested by punctuation
- maintaining a steady pace across the video
- staying aligned with visual beats
The focus isn’t speed.
It’s continuity.
A consistent rhythm helps the viewer stay engaged, especially when information density is high.
Text segmentation: a hidden source of tension in explainer voiceovers
A frequent issue in explainer scripts is segmentation.
When everything is delivered with the same intensity, the result can feel slightly anxious — even if the message is clear.
Most explainers naturally follow a structure:
- a problem
- a solution
- a conclusion or signature
Even when the script doesn’t explicitly mark these sections, the voice can still create them.
Clear segmentation gives the listener landmarks.
It allows ideas to unfold naturally instead of stacking up.
In practice, structure often matters more than energy.
Localisation is more than translation in explainer videos
Brand names and pronunciation in French voiceovers
In any language, speakers tend to adapt brand names to their phonetic and cultural norms.
For globally established brands, keeping a widely recognised pronunciation often makes sense.
What matters most is consistency and alignment with audience expectations.
Deciding this upfront avoids hesitation later.
Brands, numbers and mixed language usage
Some combinations deserve special attention.
For instance:
- a brand name may stay in English
- while numbers are naturally said in French
These details seem minor, but they strongly affect listening comfort and credibility.
Interface language and real user context in software explainers
In software explainers, keeping English terms is often the right choice:
- when the interface itself is in English
- when users see those labels on screen
“Click on Save” and “Cliquez sur enregistrer” are both valid — depending on context.
Consistency with real user experience matters more than linguistic purity.
Voiceover in explainer videos is about intention, not delivery
Explainers are different from corporate films.
They rely on evolving intention:
- clarity first
- then guidance
- then momentum
The voice is not a distant narrator.
It often sounds more like:
- a colleague explaining something
- an expert speaking to peers
That proximity builds trust.
In practice, this often means:
- starting slightly slower to install clarity
- letting the listener settle into the message
- gradually increasing pace as ideas become familiar
- ending with a slightly more dynamic tone to energise the conclusion
The voice accompanies the listener.
It doesn’t dominate the message.
On localised projects, the goal is usually to stay as close as possible to what already works — sometimes with slightly more or less energy, depending on the language.
When everything fits, feedback is often minimal.
And that’s usually a good sign.
What really matters for a French explainer voiceover
A few principles consistently help:
- clarity over speed
- listening comfort over performance
- consistency from start to finish
- respect for the original intent, rather than literal replication
When these elements align, the French voiceover feels natural and supports the message without drawing attention to itself.
Conclusion
French voiceover for explainer videos is largely about balance.
Language, timing, structure and intention all play a role.
Most issues can be anticipated early.
When they are, the voice simply supports the message — and that’s exactly what an explainer needs.
You can find explainer voiceover examples on my portfolio page.
