Looking for expert Greek translation services? Since 2003, Green Crescent has been providing professional translation services between English and Greek to clients around the world. We specialize in various industries, including legal, technical, marketing, and business sectors. Our experienced team ensures accurate, high-quality translations tailored to your specific needs. Get a fast, free Greek translation quote today!
Our Comprehensive Greek Translation Services
Green Crescent’s skilled team of Greek translators includes subject matter experts for industry-specific needs. We provide translations tailored to all major varieties of Greek, including:
- Modern Greek (Greece)
- Cypriot Greek (Cyprus)
- Greek Diaspora Variations (Global Communities)
We specialize in both English to Greek and Greek to English translations, offering the following services:
Simple Translation
Our simple translations in the English/Greek language pair are designed for basic communication needs. These translations are completed by a single Greek translator without the involvement of an editor or proofreader, and therefore should not be considered final or ready for formal use cases. While typically high in quality, simple translations are essentially "rough drafts" that do not go through additional editing, proofreading, or other quality control processes. These translations are ideal for personal letters, informal communications, initial drafts that will later be revised, or when you need to quickly understand the general meaning or "gist" of a Greek text.
Standard Translation (TEP)
Our Standard Greek Translation service provides 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 the highest level of accuracy and clarity in your Greek communications.
Organization Critical Translation (TEP+)
Our Organization Critical Greek Translation service is designed for situations where perfection is essential. This option is recommended for texts intended for large-scale printing, technical documents, legal contracts and patents, medical documents, or any case where an error could be critical or costly. Each translated line is reviewed by a minimum of three linguists, with multiple rounds of proofreading. Subject matter experts (SMEs) may be involved as needed throughout the Greek translation, editing, and proofreading (TEP) process.
Bilingual Editing
Bilingual Editing for Greek Translation is the process of editing a translated text by comparing both the source and target texts in the English/Greek language pair. The editor, fluent in the source language and a native speaker of Greek, ensures that the translation is accurate, consistent, and faithful to the source text while maintaining clarity and fluency in Greek. This step occurs after the initial translation in our TEP (Translation, Editing, Proofreading) services. We also offer this service as a standalone option for translations completed by individuals or organizations not affiliated with Green Crescent.
Proofreading
With each additional round of editing and proofreading, the error rate of a document approaches the perfection horizon. Our proofreading service for English to Greek and Greek to English translations involves reviewing a single-language text to identify and correct surface-level errors, such as spelling mistakes, grammar issues, punctuation errors, and formatting inconsistencies. This step is the final phase in our TEP services. We also offer proofreading as a standalone service for translations completed by individuals or organizations not affiliated with Green Crescent.
Legal Translation
Green Crescent's team of linguists, each with subject matter expertise in specialized legal fields, is ready to assist you with the translation of a wide range of judicial, administrative, and private legal documents between Greek and English. Many countries recognize that submitting documents for translation does not compromise attorney-client privilege. Furthermore, we can implement enhanced security measures to ensure strict confidentiality upon request.
Technical Translation
Technical translations involve texts with specialized vocabulary or language registers, necessitating additional research and terminology verification. Common technical subjects include legal, medical, scientific, engineering, and IT topics. Any text that uses industry-specific terminology or neologisms may be considered technical in nature. These translations require linguists with in-depth knowledge of the relevant technical field in both Greek and English.
Medical Translation
Green Crescent has established protocols to ensure compliance with global medical standards, including HIPAA and HITECH regulations. Our Greek medical translations are treated as "organization critical" unless otherwise specified, and we are committed to implementing the necessary digital security measures and legal safeguards for every project subject to medical regulations. Our team of skilled linguists, specialized in medical terminology, ensures that your translations are both accurate and secure.
Localization
Our translation services are tailored for specific target markets that require non-standard varieties or dialects of the Greek language. Green Crescent is equipped to accommodate requests for localized Greek translations, ensuring that your content resonates with the intended audience. We offer translations in regional dialects such as "Cypriot Greek" and others. Our experienced linguists are well-versed in the nuances of these dialects, allowing us to provide translations that are not only accurate but also culturally relevant and engaging. By focusing on the unique linguistic characteristics of each Greek dialect, we help you effectively connect with your audience and enhance the impact of your message.
Website, App, and Software Localization for Greek
At Green Crescent, we leverage our extensive experience in software development to provide specialized Greek localization services. We excel in adapting your website, app, or software’s content, design, and functionality for Greek-speaking audiences. Whether you need a fully multilingual solution or specific adaptations for Greek, our services encompass translating text, adjusting images, and modifying layouts. We also adapt and program code for both mobile and desktop applications, ensuring that your app functions seamlessly across Greek-speaking regions while adhering to platform-specific guidelines.
Back-translation
Back-translation is often a crucial component of the quality control process, particularly when translating highly technical documents or for critical translations in the Greek/English language pair where an error could have significant consequences. This process involves an independent linguist translating a previously translated text back into its original source language—either Greek or English—without reference to the original document. The resulting text is then compared to the original translation to verify its intelligibility, accuracy, and suitability for its intended use.
Peer Review
Green Crescent offers professional focus group services that include a comprehensive "read-through" conducted by one or more linguists who were not involved in the original translation process. This approach allows for an unbiased assessment of the translation's quality, style, and overall fitness for its intended purpose. The focus group can evaluate various aspects of the text, including linguistic accuracy, cultural relevance, and the effectiveness of the messaging in reaching the target audience.
SME Review
Subject Matter Expert (SME) review is a specialized form of peer review conducted by non-linguist professionals with deep expertise in specific fields. This process is particularly important for Greek to English or English to Greek translations of highly technical texts, ensuring that the content is both linguistically accurate and technically precise.
Transcreation
Our Greek Transcreation Service goes beyond simple translation by creatively adapting your content to resonate with Greek-speaking audiences. We ensure that your brand’s messages, campaigns, and communications maintain their original intent, emotional impact, and tone, while aligning with the cultural and linguistic nuances of the target market.
MTPE-Full (Machine Translation Post-Editing - Full)
MTPE-Full refers to the comprehensive post-editing of a machine-translated text between Greek and English, ensuring the final product meets the highest standards of linguistic quality. A skilled human editor thoroughly reviews the content to correct grammar, syntax, and terminology, ensuring that the text flows naturally and adheres to stylistic preferences or regulatory requirements.
MTPE-Light (Machine Translation Post-Editing - Light)
MTPE-Light is a streamlined version of post-editing, designed for situations where speed and cost-efficiency are prioritized over linguistic perfection. The human editor focuses primarily on fixing major errors and ensuring that the overall meaning of the machine-translated text is clear and understandable in the target language (Greek or English).
Additional Language Services and Options for Greek
Certified Translation
Green Crescent provides certified translations of a wide range of legal documents, including birth, marriage, and death certificates, diplomas, school transcripts, passports, and much more, in both Greek and English. Our certified translations are recognized for their accuracy and compliance with legal standards, making them suitable for official use. You can receive hard copies of our standard certificate of translation mailed directly to your home or business.
Rush Service
If you require expedited service, Green Crescent can usually accommodate such requests. However, please note that rushing translations often comes with trade-offs, which may affect both price and consistency. Please consult with a project manager for more details.
Discounts
Volume discounts are available for large projects, long-term clients, and for non-profits, charities, NGOs, and government organizations.
Minimum Fee
There is a minimum project fee of $75.00 USD per language, which can be reduced or waived for regular clients.
Additional Language Services
In addition to translation, Green Crescent offers a range of other Greek language services, including interpretation, transcription, website design and development, and desktop publishing.
About the Greek Language
Greek is the official language of Greece and Cyprus, spoken by approximately 13 million people worldwide. It has one of the longest documented histories of any language, with written records dating back over 3,000 years. Beyond its use in Greece and Cyprus, Greek is spoken by diaspora communities in countries such as the United States, Australia, and Canada. Greek is not only essential for communication but also carries significant cultural and historical value, influencing philosophy, science, and the arts for centuries.
Greece: The Standard Dialect and Its Regional Variations
The standard modern Greek language, also known as "Dimotiki," evolved from earlier forms of Greek, including "Katharevousa" and ancient Greek. While the modern standard is used for official communication, education, and media, there are several regional dialects such as Cretan, Pontic, and Cypriot Greek. These dialects enrich the language with unique vocabulary, pronunciation, and idiomatic expressions. When translating into Greek, it’s important to account for both the standard dialect and regional variations, depending on the target audience.
Greece’s historical and cultural contributions are profound, spanning fields such as philosophy, mathematics, and literature. From ancient Greek epics like Homer’s "Iliad" to modern works by authors such as Nikos Kazantzakis, the Greek language is deeply intertwined with the cultural and intellectual legacy of Western civilization. Translating content for Greek audiences requires a deep understanding of this cultural context to ensure the message resonates accurately and authentically.
History and Legacy of the Greek Language
Greek is a unique Indo-European language with a rich legacy that stretches from the Mycenaean period through classical antiquity and into the present day. Its influence on Western culture is undeniable, particularly in areas like philosophy, science, and the arts. The ancient works of philosophers like Plato and Aristotle, as well as the classical tragedies of Sophocles and Euripides, are still studied and admired worldwide.
In modern times, Greek literature continues to have a global influence, with significant 20th-century writers such as Nobel laureates George Seferis and Odysseas Elytis. Their works, deeply rooted in Greek history and identity, showcase the versatility and beauty of the Greek language. At Green Crescent, we strive to capture this historical depth and cultural significance in our Greek translation services, ensuring that each translation reflects the nuances of the language.
Key Linguistic Differences Between Greek and English for Translation
Translating between Greek and English requires careful attention to several key linguistic differences that can impact the meaning and tone of the translation:
Word Order and Sentence Structure:
Greek has more flexibility in word order compared to English. While English typically follows a Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) pattern, Greek sentences can place the verb at the end or rearrange elements for emphasis. For instance, "I love Greece" in English translates to "Αγαπώ την Ελλάδα" (Agapó tin Elláda) in Greek, but the word order can change to emphasize different parts of the sentence.
Gendered Nouns and Articles:
In Greek, all nouns have a gender—masculine, feminine, or neuter. This affects not only the noun but also the articles and adjectives that accompany it. For example, "the book" is "το βιβλίο" (to vivlío) (neuter), while "the car" is "το αυτοκίνητο" (to aftokínito) (neuter). Understanding these grammatical nuances is essential for producing accurate translations that reflect the intended meaning and cultural context.
Use of Formality:
Greek distinguishes between formal and informal speech, with different verb conjugations and vocabulary depending on the social context. The informal "εσύ" (esý) is used for casual interactions, while the formal "εσείς" (eseís) is used in more respectful or professional settings. This distinction is crucial when translating business, legal, or formal communications.
Verb Conjugations and Tenses:
Greek verbs are highly inflected, with different forms depending on tense, aspect, mood, and voice. The verb "είμαι" (ímmai) or "to be," for example, changes significantly depending on tense and subject: "είμαι" (I am), "ήμουν" (I was), "θα είμαι" (I will be). Translators must ensure the correct tense and conjugation are used to convey the right meaning.
Idiomatic Expressions:
Greek is rich in idiomatic expressions that do not translate directly into English. Phrases like "όποιος δεν έχει μυαλό έχει πόδια" (whoever doesn't have a mind, has feet) means "if you don't think ahead, you’ll end up working harder." Capturing the essence of these expressions requires skill and cultural knowledge, as direct translations often fail to convey the intended meaning.
Green Crescent ensures that our Greek translation services are linguistically accurate, culturally relevant, and contextually appropriate. Whether translating legal documents, marketing materials, or technical manuals, our team of expert Greek translators works meticulously to preserve the integrity of the original content while delivering clear and precise translations for Greek-speaking audiences.
An Insight into Greek Wit and Expression
This passage is from Zorba the Greek by Nikos Kazantzakis, first published in 1946. This celebrated novel captures the essence of freedom, human experience, and the pursuit of happiness, themes that resonate deeply in Greek culture and philosophy.
- Greek: "Η ευτυχία είναι κάτι που πρέπει να κατακτήσεις μόνος σου."
- English Translation: "Happiness is something you must conquer on your own."