English to French Translator

From LoveToKnow French

There are many places to find an English to French translator. There are services you can use to translate complex documents, there are websites that function as automatic translators and there are old fashioned, hardcover dictionaries. You may even decide that you want to become a translator.

French Dictionaries

How to go from English to French

Translating from English to French is not as easy as one may think. For example, when you are learning a language, teachers discourage you from translating in your head but rather urge you to learn to think in that language. This is because simply putting groups of words together as you would in English will not necessarily render an accurate meaning in French. Take for example:

  • I am hungry

The word for word translation would be:

  • Je suis faim

In French this would mean something like, I am hunger because in the French language one has hunger rather than is hungry. Thus the correct way to construct this phrase is:

  • J'ai faim.

This very simple example illustrates the complexities of moving from one language to another. One has to learn more than simply vocabulary one must also understand syntax, idioms and other ambiguities.

English to French Dictionary Translations

Translation dictionaries are those that contain translations of words from both English to French and French to English in one book. They are also detailed and comprehensive as to contemporary language and are usually compiled by renowned lexicographers in both languages. The aims of these dictionaries is that they be just as useful to French and English speakers alike. The three most well known and considered to be the gold standard for translation dictionaries are:

These dictionaries are used by everyone from students to professionals. Most of them have accompanying CD-Roms or even online versions.

When to Use a Professional English to French Translator

If you need to have something official, such as a legal document, translated from English to French, you probably need to hire an English to French translator who has some certification credentials. If you use a native French speaker, they should have a credential in the area of specialization, such as law. A credential in English would be useful as well. If you use a native English speaker, they must have special translation training in addition to expertise in the field.

Some reliable agencies that can give you online estimates are:

It is probably best to go with an agency or individual who has a proven track record translating the types of documents you need to have translated. Ask for samples or references to make sure you know what type of translation to expect.

How to Become a Translator

Most translators translate from a second language into their native one. Thus, if you are proficient enough in French and English is your native language, perhaps you might be able to earn money translating French documents into English. It helps if you have either a degree in French, or better yet in French translation. You will also need specialized knowledge of a particular field. Most translation work will be somewhat technical and will come from fields such as law, science and business but can be even more technically oriented, such as translations of instructions that accompany products. The keys to being a translator regardless of which way you are translating are:

  • Proficiency in your native language: If your grammar, spelling and syntax are bad in your native tongue, you won't get the job. You must be an excellent writer.
  • Proficiency in your second language: It is best if you have spent at least 2 years in the country you wish to translate from. This is how you learn all of the particular colloquialisms, idioms and even emotions tied to how a language is expressed.
  • Specialization: It is best if you have an area of specialization, for example, there is always a need for lawyers or paralegals who can translate legal documents.
  • Computer equipment: Many clients expect translators to have computer assisted software in addition to all the basic tools such as Microsoft Office which allow you to read documents coming in a variety of formats.

Finding a way to translate from English to French or back is not difficult and there are a variety of resources to guide you. You may even decide that you have the skills to become a translator yourself.

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Comments

You can say, "Je m'apelle Aakash." (Pronounced zhu mah pell. . .)

-- Contributed by: Valorie Delp

hi i want to know how to my name is Aakash in french

-- Contributed by: Aakash Dwivedi

Thank you for visiting our site. Cliches do not translate well into another language. It looses it's meaning substantially. Instead, if you're looking for a quote about heroism in French, try a famous French author. For example, "Po¨tes and et heroes hros are sont of de the le same mme race, race, the le latter dernier do faire what quoi the le former ancien conceive. concevoir." Poets and heroes are of the same race, the hero does what the poet conceives in his mind. That was written by Alphonse de Lamartine--a French poet.

-- Contributed by: Valorie Delp
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