Free German to English Translation Guide: Find a German Language Translator

Looking for a German language translator? Our free German to English translation guide will help.

Unlike other websites about translation, we are not promoting the services of any one translation company. This allows us to give you fair and objective advice.

Here is some of the information we've gathered for you on these pages:

  • Sample prices from German translators
  • German translation rates from different translation agencies
  • Best practices in project management to keep your translation out of trouble
  • Tips on translator selection, based on our experience evaluating hundreds of freelance translators

Free German to English Translation - Contents

Managing Your German Translation Project. The essential steps to a smooth, trouble-free translation.

Comparison of German Translation Options. Should you go to an agency or hire a freelance German language translator?

How to choose a Freelance German Translator. Choosing the right translator means the difference between success and failure for your project.

How to Choose a Translation Agency. There are so many agencies out there, all making similar promises. Here are tips on sorting through the offers.

Costs of German Translation. How much does a typical translator charge? A translation agency? See sample prices here.

How to Save Money on your German Translation. Top tips on cutting costs without sacrificing quality.

Managing Translation Timing. How fast can you expect to get your translation back?

Cultural checklist for German Translations. Apart from translating the language, you might have to adapt your texts to make them culturally appropriate.

What Your German Translator Needs to Know. Here's a checklist of background information your translator needs if you want the job done right.

Meet a German Translator - Part 1. Get an insider's view on German translation from Katharina Wawrzon, a freelance German language translator.

Meet a German Translator - Part 2. Freelance translator Katharina Wawrzon discusses the special challenges in translating from English to German.

Free Online German Translation. Get a free German to English translation online with this translation tool.

Other Resources. Browse other translation and language resources around the Web.



Free German to English Translation Guide - Frequently Asked Questions

Q: If I can get a free translation online, why would I ever pay for a translation?

A: Machine translation is wonderful when you want help reading something in German or finding your way around a German language website. But machine translation is not reliable for anything important. Free German to English translation tools often return gibberish or translations that simply do not have the same meaning as the original.

We therefore recommend using free translation tools only for understanding, not for communicating. And when a precise understanding is important, we would recommend a human translation instead.

Go to a free German to English translation tool

Q: How much does a professional German translator charge?

A: The price of a translation will depend on the length, difficulty, and translation provider. Normally, translators and translation agencies charge a per word rate based on the number of words in the original language. In our pricing study of freelance German translators based in the U.S., we found an average rate of $0.12 for translations from English to German, and $0.13 for translations from German to English. In generally, a freelance German language translator will charge lower rates than a translation agency.

Read more on German language translator rates from the Free German to English Translation Guide

Q: How long will my translation take?

A: The short answer to this question is: ask your German language translator. The timing of your translation depends on many factors, so it is always better to agree on a deadline before starting. As a rough guideline, it is probably not realistic to ask translators to manage more than 3000 words per day. For technical documents, the translation can take much longer. On the other hand, if your German language translator has a lot of experience with similar documents, the work might go quickly.

Translation agencies may add an extra day or two to the timing to allow for coordination and quality assurance tasks. If you are in a hurry, your German translation provider might agree to a "rush timing" for a higher price.

Read more on translation timing from the Free German to English Translation Guide

Q: How do I choose a freelance German language translator?

A: Look for an experienced German language translator who is a native speaker of the translation target language -- that is, the final language of the translation. In other words, if your translation is from English to German, your translator should be a native German speaker. If the translation is from German to English, your translator should be a native English speaker.

For translations with technical subject matter, you might also a German language translator who is specialized in the relevant field.

Read more about choosing a freelance translator from the Free German to English Translation Guide.

Q: How do I choose a translation agency?

A: Look for a reputable agency that has experience with the specific type of translation you need. Ask for references from previous clients, then contact these references to find out their level of satisfaction with the agency's service. Also ask about the agency's practices in terms of German language translator selection and quality assurance. Is every translation checked by a second native translator to make sure it is error-free?

More on choosing a translation agency from the Free German to English Translation Guide.




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