Portuguese translation: what to know

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

What portuguese translation is

A Portuguese translator converts text between English and Portuguese, selecting Brazilian or European usage to suit your readers. Portuguese is spoken in Brazil, Portugal and several African countries, and everyday vocabulary, spelling and forms of address differ between them.

Signs you need it

  • Your readers are in Brazil or Portugal, and you need wording that fits their daily language.
  • You have a contract, certificate or notice that must be read in Portuguese with exact terms.
  • You are publishing a website, product guide or course in Portuguese and want it to read naturally.
  • You have a Portuguese document that must be read in English for a business, legal or family purpose.
  • A machine translation has used the wrong variety, such as European forms for Brazilian readers.
  • You are preparing a document for an office or school that expects a faithful translation.

What the pro does

  • Confirms the readers' country and the variety of Portuguese to use, Brazilian or European.
  • Builds a glossary of names, product terms and recurring phrases, with the Portuguese term for each.
  • Translates the text and keeps its meaning and tone, adapting everyday phrases for the chosen variety.
  • Chooses the form of address and checks it stays consistent through the whole text.
  • Reviews the translation for natural phrasing, then returns the file with notes on the variety choices.

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Every job is different, so we do not publish prices.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.
  • Variety needed, Brazilian or European, or text meant for readers in several countries.
  • Subject complexity, such as legal, medical, technical or marketing text.
  • Formatting, such as tables, forms or design files.
  • Whether a second reviewer checks the Portuguese text.
  • Deadline for delivery.

What a written quote should spell out

  • The word count or page count, and the language direction.
  • The variety of Portuguese the translation targets.
  • 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

  • Are your readers in Brazil, Portugal or another country?
  • Will you use the same form of address throughout, and which one?
  • How do you handle names of places and products that should stay in English?
  • Will a second person review the Portuguese text?
  • Can you keep the layout of my forms or tables?
  • Can you show a sample passage in the variety my readers use?

Red flags

  • Gives one Portuguese version for readers in every country without asking who they are.
  • Mixes the two varieties within one document.
  • Changes names, dates or figures in the translation.
  • Sends a machine translation with no human review and presents it as professional work.
  • Cannot explain which variety they used or why.

What you can do yourself

You can list the readers' country, the names and terms that must stay the same, and the tone you want, then have a speaker of the right variety read a draft. Hire a translator when the document is official, will be published to customers, or contains legal, medical or technical terms where one wrong word changes the meaning.

Licenses and permits

Portuguese 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 Portuguese samples in your subject as proof of skill.

Portuguese translation questions

Brazilian or European Portuguese?

Choose the variety your readers use every day. Brazilian Portuguese is the usual choice for readers in Brazil, and European Portuguese for readers in Portugal. Vocabulary, spelling and forms of address can differ, so the choice affects the whole text.

Is one version readable in both countries?

Usually a text can be read in both, but it may sound foreign to some readers. If your audience is in both countries, ask the translator for a neutral approach and explain the trade-offs.

Are English names kept?

Normally yes for company and product names. Give the translator a list of names that must not change.

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