Arabic translation: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What arabic translation is

An Arabic translator converts text between English and Arabic, handling right to left layout, regional dialect differences and formal written standards. Formal writing in Arabic follows a standard written form used across the Arab world, while everyday speech varies by region, so the translator must choose the form your readers need.

Signs you need it

  • Your readers are Arabic speakers, and you need a document that uses the standard written form they expect for official or business use.
  • You have a contract, certificate or notice that must be read in Arabic with exact terms.
  • You are publishing a website, menu, product guide or course in Arabic and want it to read naturally.
  • You have an Arabic document that must be read in English for a business, legal or personal purpose.
  • A machine translation has mixed layout or direction, so the text breaks when placed in your English document.
  • You need a document for a readership that spans several countries and needs one clear version.

What the pro does

  • Confirms the readers, their region and the level of formality the document needs.
  • Builds a glossary of names, product terms and titles, with the Arabic form of each.
  • Translates the text in the standard written form, and adapts phrases that would sound regional or out of place.
  • Sets the text direction and checks that numbers, dates and mixed English words display correctly in the layout.
  • Reviews the translation for natural phrasing, then returns the file with notes on any regional choice to approve.

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Word count or page count, and the number of documents.
  • Whether the text is for readers in one country or across several.
  • Subject complexity, such as legal, medical, technical or marketing text.
  • Layout complexity, such as right to left tables, forms or mixed English and Arabic text.
  • Whether a second reviewer checks the Arabic text.
  • Deadline for delivery.

What a written quote should spell out

  • The word count or page count, and the language direction.
  • The written standard and the readers' region the translation targets.
  • The glossary step, and who approves the terms.
  • Whether the layout is checked for right to left display.
  • Whether a second review is included, and the file format returned.

Questions to ask before you hire

  • Which countries will read this Arabic text?
  • Will you use the standard written form, and how do you handle regional phrases?
  • How do you handle mixed English and Arabic text in the layout?
  • Will a second person review the Arabic text?
  • Can you keep the layout of my forms or tables, in right to left order?
  • Can you show a sample passage on a subject like mine?

Red flags

  • Uses one regional dialect for all readers without asking where they are.
  • Breaks the layout or direction of the document and does not check it.
  • Changes names, dates or figures in the translation.
  • Sends a machine translation with no human review and presents it as professional work.
  • Cannot explain the written form or the regional choices in the text.

What you can do yourself

You can list the readers' region, the names and terms that must stay the same, and whether the document is formal or informal, then have an Arabic speaker from the readers' region read a draft. Hire a translator when the document is official, will be published or sent to customers, or contains legal, medical or technical terms where a wrong word changes the meaning.

Licenses and permits

Arabic translation is not commonly licensed, so a license is usually not required for this work. Check with the office or organization that will receive the document, since some set their own rules for accepted translations, and ask the translator for Arabic samples in your subject as proof of skill.

Arabic translation questions

Why does standard Arabic differ from the way people speak?

Standard written Arabic is used across the Arab world for formal writing, while spoken dialects differ from country to country. A formal document usually needs the standard form, and a casual message may use a dialect. Tell the translator who will read it.

How does right to left text affect my document?

Arabic is written from right to left, so tables, bullet points and mixed English and Arabic lines can display in unexpected places. Ask the translator to check the layout after translation.

Do numbers and dates change?

Arabic text can use different numeral forms, and dates may be written in a different order depending on the country. Ask the translator to match the forms your readers use.

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