Portuguese to English translation

Portuguese to English translation is one of the most requested language combinations: Portuguese has around 254.3M speakers and is official in Angola, Brazil and Cape Verde.

Brazilian and European Portuguese differ in vocabulary, pronouns (você/tu) and spelling after the 1990 Orthographic Agreement. Always confirm the target market.

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, 1,020,725 people speak Portuguese at home and 369,233 speak English less than "very well", which drives steady demand for Portuguese–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 Portuguese → English projects

• English output is usually 15–30% shorter than the Portuguese source — budget by source words.
• Agree on formality (formal vs informal address) for Portuguese 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.