Italian to English translation

Italian to English translation is one of the most requested language combinations: Italian has around 64.8M speakers and is official in Italy, San Marino and Switzerland.

Italian distinguishes formal Lei from informal tu, and nouns, adjectives and past participles agree in gender and number. Romance dialogue often shifts from Lei to tu as intimacy grows — a useful tool for translators.

Indicative freelance rates for major western european languages run from about $0.08 to $0.16 per word for general commercial work; specialised, certified and urgent jobs cost more, and literary translation is usually paid per 1,000 words.

In the US, 519,829 people speak Italian at home and 124,000 speak English less than "very well", which drives steady demand for Italian–English translation and interpreting in healthcare, legal and public services.

Indicative rates

Per-word band for general commercial work in the major western european group. Real quotes depend on subject, volume, deadline and experience.

Tips for Italian → English projects

• English output is usually 10–25% shorter than the Italian source — budget by source words.
• Agree on formality (formal vs informal address) for Italian before translation starts and record it in the style guide.
• Decide on US or UK English spelling and punctuation conventions up front.
• For official documents (birth certificates, diplomas) into English, US agencies usually accept a translator's signed certification; check the receiving institution.
• Send reference material and a glossary of brand or series terms; it saves revision rounds and money.