Looking for expert Spanish translation services? Since 2003, Green Crescent has been providing professional translation services between English and Spanish to clients worldwide, catering to a diverse range of industries, including legal, technical, medical, and more. We are equipped to handle all your language service needs. Get a fast, free Spanish translation quote today!
Our Comprehensive Spanish Translation Services
Green Crescent’s experienced team of Spanish translators includes subject matter experts for industry-specific needs. We specialize in translations tailored to all major Spanish dialects, including:
- Castilian Spanish (Spain)
- Mexican Spanish
- Central American Spanish
- Caribbean Spanish (Cuban and Dominican)
- Argentinian Spanish
- Latin American Spanish (targeted to any of Latin America's 18 Spanish-speaking nations)
- United States Spanish (we are experts in crafting optimal Spanish texts that facilitate seamless communication with the estimated 42 million Spanish speakers living in the United States.)
We offer the following services for both English to Spanish and Spanish to English translations:
Simple Translation
Our simple translations in the English/Spanish language pair are designed for basic communication needs. These translations are completed by a single Spanish 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 they are typically of high 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 for situations where you need to quickly understand the general meaning or "gist" of a Spanish text.
Standard Translation (TEP)
Our Standard Spanish 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 the highest level of accuracy and clarity in your Spanish communications.
Organization Critical Translation (TEP+)
Our Organization Critical Spanish 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 Spanish translation, editing, and proofreading (TEP) process.
Bilingual editing
Bilingual Editing for Spanish Translation is the process of editing a translated text by comparing both the source and target texts in the English/Spanish language pair. The editor, fluent in the source language and a native speaker of Spanish, ensures that the translation is accurate, consistent, and faithful to the source text while also maintaining clarity and fluency in Spanish. This step occurs after the initial translation in our TEP (Translation, Editing, Proofreading) Organization Critical and Standard Translation 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 Spanish and Spanish 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 (Translation, Editing, Proofreading) Organization Critical and Standard translation 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 elite 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 Spanish and English. Nearly all 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 any text that features specialized vocabulary or language registers, necessitating additional research and terminology verification. Common technical subject matter includes legal, medical, scientific, engineering, and IT topics, but any text that utilizes industry-specific terminology or neologisms may be considered technical in nature. These translations cannot be executed by generalists alone; they require the expertise of linguists with in-depth knowledge of the relevant technical field in both Spanish and English.
Medical Translation
Green Crescent has established protocols to ensure compliance with HIPAA and HITECH regulations, which you can learn more about here. Our Spanish 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 HIPAA and HITECH requirements. 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 Spanish language. Green Crescent is equipped to accommodate requests for localized Spanish translation, ensuring that your content resonates with the intended audience. For example, we offer translations in regional dialects such as "Mexican Spanish," "Castilian Spanish," "Argentinian Spanish," and "Cuban Spanish." 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 Spanish dialect, we help you effectively connect with your audience and enhance the impact of your message.
Website, App, and Software Localization for Spanish
At Green Crescent, we leverage our extensive experience in software development to provide specialized Spanish localization services. We excel in adapting your website, app, or software’s content, design, and functionality for Spanish-speaking audiences. Whether you need a fully multilingual solution or specific adaptations for Spanish, 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 Spanish-speaking regions while adhering to platform-specific guidelines. Let us help you create an engaging and culturally relevant experience for your Spanish-speaking users.
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 Spanish/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 Spanish 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. Back-translation is also relevant in situations such as the translation of legal documents, medical texts, and marketing materials, where precise wording is essential. It can be particularly beneficial when adapting content for different cultural contexts, ensuring that the intended message is preserved and resonates appropriately with the target audience in both Spanish and English.
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. Feedback is provided on how well the translation conveys the original intent and nuances of the source material, ensuring that it resonates with readers in both Spanish and English contexts.
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 Spanish to English or English to Spanish translations of highly technical texts, ensuring that the content is both linguistically accurate and technically precise. In fields such as legal, medical, scientific, and engineering, SMEs help verify the correct use of industry-specific terminology, adherence to regulatory or technical standards, and the contextual relevance of the translated material. By incorporating SME review into the translation process, we ensure that your final product is not only fluent and culturally appropriate but also technically sound and ready for professional use in both Spanish- and English-speaking markets.
Transcreation
Our Spanish Transcreation Service goes beyond simple translation by creatively adapting your content to resonate with Spanish-speaking audiences. At Green Crescent, 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. Whether it’s marketing, branding, or advertising, we reimagine your content to feel authentic and compelling in Spanish, helping your brand connect meaningfully and effectively with Hispanic audiences.
MTPE-Full (Machine Translation Post-Editing - Full)
MTPE-Full (Machine Translation Post-Editing - Full) refers to the comprehensive post-editing of a machine-translated text between Spanish and English, ensuring the final product meets the highest standards of linguistic quality. In this process, once the machine generates the translation, a skilled human editor thoroughly reviews the entire content, ensuring that it is not only accurate in meaning but also flows naturally and fluently in the target language. This detailed editing process goes beyond simple corrections, often requiring significant rewriting and rephrasing to fix awkward or incorrect machine translations. The editor ensures that the translated text reflects the original in terms of meaning, tone, and style while adapting it to the cultural nuances and context specific to Spanish or English. Special attention is paid to maintaining the accuracy of technical terminology, idiomatic expressions, and the overall message. The outcome of MTPE-Full is a high-quality translation, comparable to one done entirely by a human translator, but delivered more efficiently. This method is particularly valuable for large volumes of text in the Spanish/English language pair, where maintaining high quality is essential, yet time and budget constraints are in play. Our MTPE-Full service offers an optimal solution in various situations, balancing quality and efficiency.
MTPE-Light (Machine Translation Post-Editing - Light)
MTPE-Light (Machine Translation Post-Editing - Light) for the English/Spanish language pair involves a streamlined post-editing process focused on making machine-translated text between English and Spanish understandable and free of major errors. In this approach, the editor corrects key issues, such as grammatical mistakes, mistranslations, and inaccuracies in meaning, to ensure the text is clear and functional in either language. However, this method does not aim for high stylistic quality or perfect idiomatic expression.
MTPE-Light is ideal when speed is essential or for internal documents where perfect fluency isn't required, but basic comprehension is. Due to advances in large language models, MTPE-Light has replaced our previous Simple Translation Service, offering a more efficient and accurate solution for basic translation needs between English and Spanish while ensuring clear communication.
Additional Language Services and Options for Spanish
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 Spanish 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 Spanish language services, including interpretation, transcription, website design and development, and desktop publishing.
About the Spanish Language
With an estimated 570 million speakers, Spanish is one of the world's most widely spoken languages and the most commonly spoken language in the Western Hemisphere. Mexico, with a population of over 124 million, is the largest Spanish-speaking nation in the world.
Spanish is the official language in 21 countries, including Spain, Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, Venezuela, Peru, Chile, Ecuador, Guatemala, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Bolivia, Honduras, Paraguay, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Uruguay, and Puerto Rico. It is also the most widely spoken language in Equatorial Guinea, where it is one of the official languages. In the United States, Spanish is the second most spoken language, with over 40 million speakers, most of whom are of Mexican descent.
Spanish has numerous dialects and regional varieties. In the translation industry, Spanish is often categorized into two broad groups: Castilian Spanish (the variant most commonly used in Spain) and Latin American Spanish (the variants used across the Americas, including Mexican, Central American, Caribbean, Andean, Rioplatense, and Chilean varieties). This distinction is crucial because there are several significant differences between written Castilian and Latin American Spanish. One key difference is the absence of "vosotros" (the informal plural form of "you") in Latin American Spanish, which is commonly used in Spain. Despite these variations, all Spanish dialects and varieties are mutually intelligible.
As a general rule, Mexican Spanish is recommended as the standard dialect for broader communication with audiences in the United States and Latin America, due to its widespread usage and cultural influence. For audiences in Europe, Castilian Spanish is more appropriate. If your target market requires more specific localization, Green Crescent offers professional Spanish translation services with translators from around the world who can adapt your content to any region, country, or dialect.
Key Linguistic Differences Between Spanish and English for Translation
When translating from English to Spanish (and vice versa), several important linguistic aspects need to be considered to ensure accurate and meaningful communication. Below are some of the major differences between the two languages:
Verb Conjugations:
Spanish verbs are more complex than English verbs. Spanish has distinct verb endings for each subject pronoun in every tense, whereas English has simpler verb conjugations. For example, the Spanish verb hablar (to speak) has different endings for each subject: hablo (I speak), hablas (you speak), habla (he/she speaks), etc. English verbs usually only change in the third person singular (e.g., "I speak," "he speaks").
Subjunctive Mood:
Spanish uses the subjunctive mood far more frequently than English. It is employed to express uncertainty, doubt, wishes, or hypothetical situations. For example, in Spanish: "Espero que vengas" (I hope you come) uses the subjunctive form vengas, while in English, the verb remains unchanged. Translators need to be aware of when the subjunctive is necessary in Spanish.
Gendered Nouns:
Unlike English, all nouns in Spanish are either masculine or feminine. This affects not only the noun itself but also the adjectives and articles that modify it. For example, el coche rojo (the red car) vs. la casa roja (the red house). English nouns are gender-neutral, which means translators must carefully account for these changes when translating into Spanish.
Reflexive Verbs:
Spanish makes extensive use of reflexive verbs, where the subject performs an action on itself (e.g., lavarse – "to wash oneself"). This is less common in English, so translators must carefully interpret and apply reflexive constructions. For example, "me levanto" means "I get up," with me being a reflexive pronoun not directly translatable into English.
Word Order:
Spanish allows for more flexible word order than English, especially when it comes to emphasis. While English relies heavily on subject-verb-object (SVO) structure (e.g., "John eats the apple"), Spanish can rearrange elements for emphasis without losing meaning (e.g., Juan come la manzana or La manzana la come Juan). Translators must consider context to maintain the intended emphasis when translating between these two languages.
Pronoun Use and Dropping:
In Spanish, subject pronouns (e.g., yo, tú) are often omitted because the verb endings themselves indicate the subject. This is different from English, where subject pronouns are required. For example, hablo (I speak) doesn't need the pronoun yo, but in English, "I speak" requires the pronoun. Translators need to recognize when to omit or include pronouns for clarity and naturalness.
Formality and Address:
Spanish distinguishes between formal and informal address through the use of tú (informal "you") and usted (formal "you"), whereas English uses just "you" in both cases. This formality impacts not just the pronouns but also the verb conjugations and tone, and it’s crucial for translators to choose the appropriate level of formality depending on the audience.
False Cognates:
Many English and Spanish words look similar but have different meanings (called false cognates). For example, actual in Spanish means "current," not "actual." These can easily lead to mistranslations if not carefully handled. Translators must be aware of these words and ensure that they don’t lead to confusion or miscommunication.
Tenses:
While both languages share similar tenses (e.g., past, present, future), Spanish tends to use certain tenses in ways that are different from English. For example, the present perfect tense in Spanish (e.g., he hablado – "I have spoken") is often used where English might use the simple past ("I spoke"). Translators must understand these differences in tense usage to avoid awkward or incorrect phrasing.
By understanding these linguistic differences, Green Crescent’s Spanish translation services ensure accurate and culturally appropriate translations that effectively communicate the intended meaning while ensuring precision and cultural relevance across various industries and document types.
An Insight into Spanish Wit and Expression
This passage is from La Colmena by Camilo José Cela, first published in 1951. This novel is a landmark work in 20th-century Spanish literature, offering a vivid portrayal of post-Civil War Madrid.
- Spanish: "La vida es esto, una cuerda floja sobre el abismo."
- English Translation: "Life is this, a tightrope over the abyss."