Ukrainian translation: what to know

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

What ukrainian translation is

A Ukrainian translator converts text between English and Ukrainian, working in Cyrillic with attention to proper names, formal tone and correct spelling. Ukrainian uses some letters that Russian does not, and the spelling of names and places follows its own conventions, so a translator who knows the language is important.

Signs you need it

  • Your readers are in Ukraine or a Ukrainian community abroad, and you need a text that reads naturally to them.
  • You have a contract, certificate or notice that must be read in Ukrainian with exact terms.
  • You are publishing a website, product guide or course in Ukrainian and want it to read naturally.
  • You have a Ukrainian document that must be read in English for a business, legal or personal purpose.
  • A machine translation has used Russian spellings or letters where Ukrainian readers expect Ukrainian ones.
  • You need a formal document for a Ukrainian office or employer that expects correct spelling of names and places.

What the pro does

  • Confirms the readers, the purpose and the level of formality the document needs.
  • Builds a glossary of names, product terms and titles, with the Ukrainian spelling of each.
  • Translates the text in Ukrainian, using Ukrainian letters and vocabulary rather than Russian ones.
  • Checks the spelling of proper names and places against the conventions Ukrainian readers expect.
  • Reviews the translation for natural phrasing, then returns the file with notes on any term you should 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Every job is different, so we do not publish prices.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.
  • Subject complexity, such as legal, medical, technical or marketing text.
  • Formal or informal tone, and the amount of specialist vocabulary.
  • Formatting, such as tables, forms or design files.
  • Whether a second reviewer checks the Ukrainian text.
  • Deadline for delivery.

What a written quote should spell out

  • The word count or page count, and the language direction.
  • The tone and form of address the translation uses.
  • The glossary step, and who approves the terms and name spellings.
  • 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 Ukrainian text, and what tone do they expect?
  • How do you spell names and places in Ukrainian?
  • Will you use Ukrainian vocabulary rather than Russian words?
  • Will a second person review the Ukrainian 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 Russian spellings or vocabulary in a Ukrainian text without explaining the choice.
  • Spells the same name differently across the 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 the spelling or the tone choices made.

What you can do yourself

You can list the names and places that must stay the same, the spelling you expect, and whether the document is formal, then have a Ukrainian 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 one wrong word changes the meaning.

Licenses and permits

Ukrainian 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 Ukrainian samples in your subject as proof of skill.

Ukrainian translation questions

Is Ukrainian the same as Russian?

No. They are separate languages with related roots. Ukrainian has letters that Russian does not, and differences in vocabulary and spelling. A translator who only writes Russian may not produce natural Ukrainian.

How are names spelled?

Names and places are usually written with Ukrainian spelling conventions, which may differ from how they appear in English or Russian. Agree the spelling of each name in the glossary before translating.

Which form of address should be used?

Formal address is common in documents and official letters, while informal address suits personal messages. Decide before translating, since changing it later means editing the whole text.

Pro reviewers

Pros who offer ukrainian translation remotely can improve this guide, like Wikipedia. We check every edit before it goes live. Every approved edit is credited in the edit history and on the pro's profile.

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