Spanish translation: what to know

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

What spanish translation is

A Spanish translator converts documents between English and Spanish, choosing the vocabulary and register for the Spanish-speaking readers you need to reach. Spanish varies a great deal by region, so the translation has to fit the country or community your readers belong to.

Signs you need it

  • Your readers are in Latin America, Spain or a US community, and you need text that fits where they live.
  • You have a form, notice or letter for Spanish speakers, and the wording must be clear to them.
  • You are publishing a website, menu, product guide or course in Spanish and want it to read naturally.
  • You have a Spanish document that must be read in English for an official, school or business purpose.
  • A machine translation of your text uses words your Spanish-speaking readers would not use.
  • You need a translation of a legal, medical or school document where one wrong term changes the meaning.

What the pro does

  • Confirms the readers' country or community and the register, such as formal usted or informal tú.
  • Builds a glossary of names, product terms and phrases, with the Spanish version you will use for each.
  • Translates the document and keeps its meaning, tone and formatting, adjusting idioms for the readers.
  • Checks dates, figures and proper names against the source.
  • Reviews the text for natural phrasing, then returns the file with notes on any regional choice you should confirm.

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Every job is different, so we do not publish prices.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.
  • Regional variety needed, such as a single country or text meant for readers across many countries.
  • Whether the text is for formal, legal, medical or marketing use.
  • Formatting, such as tables, forms or design files.
  • Whether a second reviewer checks the Spanish text.
  • Deadline for delivery.

What a written quote should spell out

  • The source word count or page count, and the direction, English to Spanish or Spanish to English.
  • The regional variety or the readers' country 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

  • Which country or community will read this translation?
  • Will you use formal or informal address, and why?
  • Can you show a sample of Spanish text for readers like mine?
  • How do you handle names of places and products that should stay in English?
  • Will a second person review the Spanish text?
  • Can you keep the layout of my forms or tables?

Red flags

  • Gives one Spanish version for readers in every country without asking who they are.
  • 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 regional choices in the text.
  • Will not show a sample passage in a subject like yours.

What you can do yourself

You can list the readers' country, the names and terms that must stay the same, and the formal or informal tone you want, then give that list to a Spanish speaker to check a draft. Hire a translator when the document is official, will be published to customers, or contains legal, medical or technical terms where the wrong word would change the meaning.

Licenses and permits

Spanish 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 the translations they accept, and ask the translator for Spanish samples in your subject as proof of skill.

Spanish translation questions

Which Spanish should I choose?

Choose the variety your readers use. A translation written for Spain can read oddly in Mexico, and the reverse is also true. If your readers are spread across countries, ask the translator for a neutral version and explain the trade-offs.

Should I use formal or informal address?

Use the address your readers expect from a business or an official source. Formal address is common in documents and notices, while informal address often suits friendly marketing. Choose before translating, since changing it later means editing the whole text.

Are English names and brands translated?

Normally not. Names of people, companies and products usually stay as they are. Give the translator a list of names that must not change.

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