Looking for expert German translation services? Since 2003, Green Crescent has been delivering professional translation services between English and German for clients globally. We specialize in industries such as legal, technical, business, and marketing sectors. Our dedicated team ensures precise, high-quality translations tailored to your needs. Get a fast, free German translation quote today!
Our Comprehensive German Translation Services
Green Crescent’s expert team of German translators includes subject matter specialists for industry-specific needs. We provide translations customized for all major German dialects, including:
- Standard German (Germany)
- Austrian German
- Swiss German
- Luxembourgish German
- Liechtenstein German
We specialize in both English to German and German to English translations, offering the following services:
Simple Translation
Our simple translations in the English/German language pair are designed for basic communication needs. These translations are completed by a single German translator without the involvement of an editor or proofreader, and therefore should not be considered final or polished work for most professional or formal use cases. While typically of high quality, simple translations are essentially "rough drafts" that do not go through additional editing, proofreading, or quality control processes. They are ideal for personal letters, informal communications, initial drafts, or situations where a quick understanding of a German text is needed.
Standard Translation (TEP)
Our Standard German Translation service is designed to provide high-quality translations for everyday use, including business correspondence, websites, reports, presentations, and similar content. This service includes translation, editing, and proofreading (TEP) to ensure accuracy and clarity in your German communications.
Organization Critical Translation (TEP+)
Our Organization Critical German Translation service is for scenarios where perfection is essential. Recommended for large-scale printing, technical documents, legal contracts, medical files, or situations where an error could be critical. Each line is reviewed by multiple linguists with several rounds of proofreading. Subject matter experts (SMEs) are involved where necessary throughout the German translation, editing, and proofreading (TEP) process.
Bilingual Editing
Bilingual Editing for German Translation is the process of comparing the source and target texts in the English/German language pair. An editor fluent in the source language and a native German speaker ensures the translation is accurate and faithful to the original while maintaining clarity and fluency in German. This service is part of our TEP services but is also available as a standalone service for translations completed outside of Green Crescent.
Proofreading
Our proofreading service reviews English to German and German to English translations for surface-level errors, including spelling, grammar, punctuation, and formatting inconsistencies. This is the final step in our TEP process and is also available as a standalone service for non-Green Crescent translations.
Legal Translation
Green Crescent’s team of linguists, with expertise in specialized legal fields, provides translation services for judicial, administrative, and private legal documents between German and English. We maintain confidentiality and can implement enhanced security measures to protect sensitive information.
Technical Translation
Technical translations cover texts with specialized vocabulary or language registers, requiring additional research and terminology verification. Common technical subject matter includes legal, medical, scientific, and engineering topics. These translations require linguists with subject matter expertise in both German and English.
Medical Translation
Green Crescent ensures compliance with privacy and security regulations for medical translations. Our German medical translations are treated as "organization critical," and our specialized linguists ensure accuracy and security for every project.
Localization
Our German localization services adapt your content to specific regional dialects and target markets. Green Crescent provides translations tailored to various German dialects, ensuring cultural relevance and audience engagement.
Website, App, and Software Localization for German
We offer comprehensive German localization services for websites, apps, and software. Our team adapts content, design, and functionality for German-speaking audiences, ensuring seamless user experiences and adherence to platform-specific guidelines.
Back-translation
Back-translation is a quality control process for critical translations, where a previously translated German text is translated back into its original language. This helps verify accuracy and ensures that the original meaning is preserved.
Peer Review
Green Crescent offers peer review services, where linguists not involved in the original translation assess the quality, style, and accuracy of the German translation. This helps ensure the translation is fit for its intended purpose and resonates with the target audience.
SME Review
Our SME review involves industry professionals verifying the technical accuracy of German translations in specialized fields. This ensures the translation is linguistically and technically precise for professional use.
Transcreation
Our German transcreation services adapt your content to resonate with German-speaking audiences. We preserve the original intent, tone, and impact of your content, while making it culturally relevant for your target market.
MTPE-Full (Machine Translation Post-Editing - Full)
MTPE-Full involves comprehensive post-editing of machine-translated German texts. Our editors ensure the final product meets high linguistic standards, making this service suitable for business-critical documents.
MTPE-Light (Machine Translation Post-Editing - Light)
MTPE-Light is a faster, more cost-effective post-editing solution, focusing on major error corrections in German translations. It provides a clear, understandable translation for internal documents or reports where basic comprehension is sufficient.
Additional Language Services and Options for German
Certified Translation
Green Crescent provides certified translations for a wide variety of legal documents, including birth, marriage, and death certificates, diplomas, school transcripts, passports, and more, in both German and English. Our certified translations meet legal and official standards for accuracy and are suitable for use in official applications. You can request hard copies of our certified translations, which will be mailed directly to your home or business.
Rush Service
If you need expedited translations, Green Crescent can usually fulfill urgent requests. However, please be aware that rushing projects may impact the cost and consistency of the translation. For detailed information, please reach out to one of our project managers.
Discounts
We offer volume discounts for large projects, long-term clients, and for non-profit organizations, charities, NGOs, and government agencies. Contact us to learn how we can provide a cost-effective solution for your German translation needs.
Minimum Fee
There is a minimum project fee of $75.00 USD per language for German translations, which may be reduced or waived for regular clients or larger projects.
Additional Language Services
In addition to translation, Green Crescent offers an array of German language services, including interpretation, transcription, website design and development, and desktop publishing. Our comprehensive language solutions ensure that all aspects of your project are handled with expertise and precision.
About the German Language
German is spoken by over 100 million people worldwide, making it the most widely spoken native language in Europe. It is an official language in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and Luxembourg, as well as one of the official languages of Belgium. German is also a significant language in scientific research, philosophy, and international business, making it crucial for accurate and culturally attuned translations.
Germany: Standard German and its Linguistic Influence
Standard German, also known as Hochdeutsch, serves as the reference dialect for written and formal communication. This version of the language was heavily influenced by Martin Luther's translation of the Bible in the 16th century, which helped to standardize German and unify various dialects. Today, Standard German is used in media, education, government, and business, making it essential for any official or professional translation.
Germany’s cultural contributions in literature, philosophy, and science are profound. From the works of Goethe, Schiller, and Kafka to philosophers like Kant, Hegel, and Nietzsche, German intellectual thought has shaped Western philosophy and literature for centuries. German also remains a key language in scientific publications and academic research, particularly in fields such as engineering, medicine, and chemistry. Translating documents within these domains requires not only linguistic precision but also subject-matter expertise to ensure that complex ideas are communicated accurately.
Swiss German and Austrian Variants
Swiss German (Schweizerdeutsch) and Austrian German (Österreichisches Deutsch) are distinct regional variations that differ from Standard German in both vocabulary and pronunciation. For example, in Switzerland, the word for "train" is "Zug," while in Austria, it might be referred to as a "Bahn." These regional differences extend to certain formalities and idiomatic expressions, which must be carefully localized to ensure the translation resonates with the target audience.
While Swiss and Austrian German remain mutually intelligible with Standard German, content localization is important for official documents, marketing materials, or any communication intended for a specific regional audience. Green Crescent's translators specialize in adjusting content to these regional nuances, ensuring clarity and cultural appropriateness.
Key Linguistic Differences Between German and English for Translation
When translating between English and German, several key linguistic differences must be taken into account to ensure both accuracy and readability. Here are some of the most important distinctions:
Compound Words:
German is famous for its compound words, which allow for the combination of multiple concepts into a single word. For instance, "Rechtsschutzversicherungsgesellschaften" (insurance companies that provide legal protection) is a long compound word that has no direct English equivalent. Translating such words requires breaking them down into simpler components without losing meaning.
Word Order:
Unlike English, German word order follows a specific structure, particularly in subordinate clauses, where the verb often comes at the end of the sentence. For example, "Ich glaube, dass er kommt" translates to "I believe that he is coming," but the verb "kommt" (comes) appears at the end of the German sentence.
Gendered Nouns and Cases:
German has three grammatical genders: masculine, feminine, and neuter, which affect articles, adjectives, and pronouns. Additionally, the language employs four cases (nominative, accusative, dative, and genitive) that dictate the role a noun plays in a sentence. This complexity requires careful attention during translation to ensure grammatical accuracy.
False Friends:
German and English share many cognates, but some words may seem familiar while having different meanings. For example, the German word "Gift" means "poison" rather than a present. These false friends can cause confusion if not correctly translated.
Formality:
German, like many European languages, has formal and informal pronouns—"Sie" for formal address and "du" for informal situations. Understanding when to use these forms is essential for conveying the right tone in translations, especially in business or legal contexts.
By addressing these linguistic complexities, Green Crescent ensures that our German translation services are not only accurate but also culturally sensitive, whether you require translation for legal documents, technical manuals, or marketing materials. Our team of professional translators provides the expertise necessary to ensure that your content resonates with German-speaking audiences, no matter the region.
An Insight into German Wit and Expression
This passage is from Der Steppenwolf by Hermann Hesse, first published in 1927. The novel remains a crucial work in 20th-century German literature, focusing on existential and spiritual themes.
- German: "Jeder Mensch ist mehr, als er scheint; er trägt einen inneren Kern voller Wahrheit."
- English Translation: "Every person is more than they seem; they carry an inner core full of truth."