Top 22 websites every translator must know
Hello fellow translators! In our line of work, it is sometimes challenging to keep up with the latest resources, tools and tips. To help you out, I have compiled a list of my top websites that every translator should know about.
So, without further ado, here we go:
Communities and news
ProZ.com
The great and once-almighty ProZ is still one of the most popular websites for translators. Although the website design and mechanics might seem a bit outdated in 2022, it is still a great platform to find new clients, collaborate with other translators and stay up-to-date with industry news.
This might sound like a broad one, but LinkedIn is a great platform for translators. Not only can you use it to find new clients and collaborators, but you can also join one of the many translator groups on LinkedIn and learn from your peers.
It’s also a great place to build your brand, especially if you’re willing to invest time and effort into sharing your knowledge and expertise.
Translators without Borders
Translators without Borders is a non-profit organization that provides translation and interpretation services to humanitarian organizations around the world. If you’re looking for a way to use your language skills for good, Translators цithout Borders is worth checking out.
Slator
Slator is the go-to website for industry news, analysis and insights. If you want to stay on top of the latest trends and developments in the translation industry, Slator is the place to be.
Multilingual
Established in 1987, Multilingual is one of the oldest and most respected periodicals in the language industry. It covers a wide range of topics, from business and technology to linguistics and translation studies.
Dictionaries & language resources
The Free Dictionary, Wiktionary, WordReference
The Free Dictionary, Wiktionary and WordReference are all great dictionaries for English speakers. With definitions, synonyms, example sentences and more for millions of words and phrases, these dictionaries are essential for any translator working with English. Granted, one should always be careful when using online dictionaries, as they are not always 100% accurate, but that doesn’t make them any less useful.
Linguee, Glosbe, Reverso Context
Linguee is a dictionary and translation memory tool that uses real-life examples of translated texts to help you understand the meaning of words and phrases. It’s an invaluable resource when working with technical or legal texts, as you can quickly check how a certain term or phrase has been translated in the past.
Glosbe and Reverso Context offer similar services to Linguee. The choice will ultimately come down to personal preference and your specific language pairs, but all three are options worth considering.
Thesaurus.com
The devil is in the details, as they say. And when it comes to language, the devil is definitely in synonyms. Thesaurus.com is a great tool for finding just the right word when you’re stuck. Just type in a word, and Thesaurus will show you a list of synonyms, each with its own “popularity meter,” example sentences and more.
Microsoft Language Portal
If you’re working with IT or software localization, you know how ambiguous and confusing some of the terms can be. Microsoft Language Portal is a great place to start your search. It’s packed with resources for translators working with Microsoft products, including glossaries, style guides and localization tips.
European Union Terminology Portal
If you’re working with EU-related content, or any social/political content for that matter, getting the terminology right is essential. The EU Terminology Portal allows you to search for EU-specific terminology in all 24 official languages of the European Union.
“define” operator in Google
This one is a bit of a wildcard, but it’s too good not to include. Google’s “define” operator allows you to quickly look up definitions of words and phrases right from the Google search bar.
Just type “define” followed by the word or phrase you want to look up, and Google will show you a definition from the New Oxford American Dictionary — one of the most respected dictionaries in the world. It will also include etymology, usage over time, and other relevant information that will help you understand the term better.
Google Ngram viewer
Speaking of usage over time, the Google Ngram viewer is a great tool for seeing how often certain words and phrases have been used in published books over the past few centuries.
Just type in a word or phrase, select the language, and choose the period you’re interested in, and the Ngram viewer will show you a graph of how often that term has been used during that time.
Tech
DeepL
Love it or hate it, it’s impossible to imagine today’s translation industry without machine translation. DeepL is perhaps the most impressive MT tool there is, having repeatedly outrun the more popular alternatives in numerous translation quality evaluations.
The best part is that DeepL allows you to edit the machine-translated text and have the engine learn from your changes. In a way, it’s “augmented translation,” where you have much more control over the output than with regular MT.
Smartcat
Smartcat is a cloud-based translation management system that offers a complete workflow solution for translators, agencies and enterprises. It’s packed with features that make it easy to manage your projects, collaborate with others, and automate repetitive tasks.
As a translator, you will especially enjoy that Smartcat is free to use for personal use. Moreover, its marketplace allows freelancers to find new clients and projects, and get paid directly through the platform.
Wordfast Anywhere
Wordfast Anywhere is a free, cloud-based translation tool that offers many of the features you would expect from a paid CAT tool, such as translation memory and terminology management.
It’s not as feature-rich as some of the paid CAT tools out there, but it’s a great option for those who are just getting started in the industry and don’t want to invest in a full-fledged CAT tool just yet.
Organization & productivity
Protemos
Love it or hate it, invoicing and project management are integral parts of any freelance translator’s business. Protemos is a cloud-based translation management system that offers basic invoicing and project management features. It’s a great tool for those who want to keep their business organized and streamlined, and it offers a free plan for personal use.
Smallpdf
Although not directly related to translation, PDFs are an integral part of the translation industry. Smallpdf is a free online tool that allows you to do various small tasks with PDFs. This includes converting them to other formats, merging multiple PDFs into one, adding digital signatures, and more.
Toggl
Time is money, as they say. Toggl is a simple time-tracking tool that allows you to track how much time you spend on each project. This is a great way to see where you’re spending too much time and where you can optimize your workflow.
Into23
This list wouldn’t be complete without a ~self-plug~ mention of our website. Although we are just starting our blog, we are already working on some great content that we think you will find useful.
We’ll be covering a wide range of topics, from language learning and translation technology to business tips and advice for freelance translators. So if you’re looking for some fresh perspectives on the translation industry, be our guest!
Phew, that was a lot! I hope it was worth it, though, and that you found at least a few new websites that you can add to your bookmarks.
Do you have any other websites that you think should be on this list? Let me know in the comments!
I would like to thank Eli Knutsen, Ditte Gry, Faustina Dongu, Lydia Yang, Kees Kranendonk, and Philipp Wacha for their input on this blog post.