Hindi translation: what to know

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

What hindi translation is

A Hindi translator converts documents between English and Hindi, working in the Devanagari script and choosing between formal and everyday vocabulary. Hindi has a formal written style with many words drawn from Sanskrit, while everyday speech mixes in English and Urdu words, so the right choice depends on who will read the text.

Signs you need it

  • Your readers are Hindi speakers, and you need a document in the script and register they expect.
  • You have a contract, certificate or notice that must be read in Hindi with exact terms.
  • You are publishing a website, product guide or course in Hindi and want the wording to sound natural.
  • You have a Hindi document that must be read in English for a business, legal or personal purpose.
  • A machine translation has used very formal vocabulary that your readers would find hard to follow.
  • You need a document for a government office or employer that expects a specific register.

What the pro does

  • Confirms the readers, the purpose and whether the text should be formal or everyday Hindi.
  • Builds a glossary of names, product terms and titles, with the Devanagari form of each.
  • Translates the text in Devanagari, choosing vocabulary that suits the readers and the field.
  • Checks the forms of address, such as aap and tum, and keeps them consistent through the document.
  • Reviews the translation for natural phrasing, then returns the file with notes on the choices 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Every job is different, so we do not publish prices.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.
  • Register needed, formal, everyday or a mix.
  • Subject complexity, such as legal, medical, technical or marketing text.
  • Formatting, such as tables, forms or design files.
  • Whether a second reviewer checks the Hindi text.
  • Deadline for delivery.

What a written quote should spell out

  • The word count or page count, and the language direction.
  • The register the translation uses.
  • The glossary step, and who approves the terms.
  • Whether a second review is included.
  • The file format returned, and whether the layout is recreated.

Questions to ask before you hire

  • Who will read the Hindi text, and what register do they expect?
  • Will you use English words where readers would use them day to day?
  • How do you choose the forms of address?
  • Will a second person review the Hindi text?
  • Can you keep the layout of my forms or tables?
  • Can you show a sample passage on a subject like mine?

Red flags

  • Uses one register for every reader without asking who they are.
  • Writes overly formal vocabulary that readers would not understand, and does not offer an alternative.
  • 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 register or the forms of address used.

What you can do yourself

You can list the readers, the names and terms that must stay the same, and whether the document is formal, then have a Hindi speaker 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

Hindi 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 Hindi samples in your subject as proof of skill.

Hindi translation questions

Why is some Hindi so formal?

Formal written Hindi uses many learned words, while everyday Hindi uses shorter, more common words and often English terms. A document for an office may need the formal style, and a notice for the public may do better with everyday words.

Should English terms stay in the Hindi text?

Often they should, where readers use those terms daily, such as technical or product words. Agree the list of kept terms in the glossary.

How are forms of address chosen?

Hindi has several forms of address that show respect or familiarity. Tell the translator who will read the text and in what relationship, so the forms match.

Pro reviewers

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