French Translation Service

K International provides an English to French Translation Service. Using in-country teams of French or Canadian translators, all professionally qualified, we are able to translate your material quickly and cost effectively into French.

We are trusted by some of the largest companies in the world to translate their material into and out of French. Working as their language partner we support them in the French speaking regions around the globe helping them to serve more customers.

>> Get a quote for your next French Translation project <<

We also offer a formatting service compatible with all of the leading formatting packages available. This means that you can send us a source document (in Quark, MS Word, InDesign etc) and we will translate it, proofread it, format it, check it and return it back to you ready for distribution or print.

All systems, procedures and translation produced at K International adhere to international quality standards. Our processes are all audited monthly via independent management consultants and quarterly by Lloyds (the assessing body). This ensures that all translation projects supplied to you will be suitable for their purpose first time.

>> Get a quote for your next French Translation project <<

If you are part of the Public Sector you are able to procure this service as part of 05/GEN/25. K International are an approved supplier to the UK Government, meaning that this service (and any other) can be ordered via the Zanzibar e-procurement system.

Get a Free Quote Today
By using K International for your French translation you will be able to publish your message in French for the French speaking market. Contact K International now on +44 (0) 1908 572600, email info@k-international.com or use our Quote form for a free instant quote on your next French translation project.

The French Language

With its roots in the Latin language, French is also a mixture of Gaulish (as spoken by the fictional character Asterix), Frankish (from where France got its name) and Old Norse (the Viking Language). Although spoken for a thousand years (in one form or another) it was not until after the First World War and the advent of mass media that French was completely established as the national language of France.

In total the French language is spoken on an everyday basis by approximately 112 million people. Due to France’s colonial past this includes people from all over the world with speakers in more that 50 countries.

This list of countries includes, France, Canada, Belgium, Switzerland, Luxemburg, Italy, Egypt, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Senegal, Zaïre, Togo, Congo, Burkina Faso and Mali. French is also considered an official language in the majority of international organisations such as the United Nations, the European Union, NATO and UNESCO.

Your Target Audience

Just like any other language, French evolves constantly over time. Obsolete words re-surface (sometimes with new meanings) and new words are incorporated. For instance words borrowed from Arabic are alcool, zéro and alambic and words from Italian include lavande and caprice.

There are also regional variations (for almost all of the regions) that must be taken into account in the translation process. These are dependant on the country that you are targeting.

Examples of variances in the language that we have found are listed below;

• The verb to wait in French (attendre) is translated as espérer (to hope) in Canadian French.
• The noun ‘blonde’ in Québec means girlfriend. In France, it means a type of cigarette or a lady with blond hair.
• Perhaps more confusing still, ‘bonjour’ is used in Québec to say goodbye… it means hello in France!
• The word ‘char’ as used in Québec means car but in French (for France) this refers to an army tank.
• In Switzerland, French speakers use the word ‘services’ for a canteen (set of forks, knives, etc.) whereas in France, it would be ‘couverts’.
• Belgium speakers use the word ‘nonente’ for ninety, whereas speakers in France would say 'quatre-vingt dix'.

The lesson here is to think about your target audience and let us know which regions your readers will be located in or from.

It is easy to see how confusing (and even potentially damaging) a marketing or information campaign could be if translated for the wrong French speaking region. K International has translators in all of the regions listed on this page and will produce a translation that is perfect for whatever French speaking region you require. Our translators are able to provide important cultural knowledge to alert you to anything that might be offensive or otherwise unacceptable in the target region.

Think carefully before writing the source copy

Your French translation will only ever be as good as the source document that you provide. With this in mind…

• Do not assume that if a word only has one meaning in English, it will also have strictly one in French.
• Provide as much context as you possibly can to avoid mistranslations. For instance, the word ‘planned’ can have 4 different spellings in French, depending on gender and singular/plural form.
• French translations are usually approximately 15-20% longer than their English source: something to consider if you are planning to create a tight layout.
• Allow enough time for the translation to be done, although we can accommodate urgent requests please give us as much time as possible. If you contact K International (01908 572 600) we’ll be able to tell you how much time to factor into for translation at the project planning stage.

Previously Translated Material

If you have any previous French translations, glossaries or reference items such as pictures, acronyms, user manuals, please forward them with the file(s) to be translated.

Reference material is an essential source of information for translators.

Although our translators are highly skilled (an MA in translation is a minimum requirement), they will use your reference material in order to adopt your style and conventions. This will be fed into our translation memory software and used to help us in future translations for your company.

Use K International

In conclusion, using the very best French translation teams, the best possible technology and our commitment to customer service K International provide a world class service. By using our French translation service you will be able to communicate with any French speakers in the world.

Contact K International now on +44 (0) 1908 572600, email info@k-international.com or use our Quote form for a free instant quote on your next French translation project.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Translation Services | Medical Translation | Technical Translation | Legal Translation