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Arabic is the world’s fourth most popular spoken language, with over 300 million native speakers. It’s also the official language of 24 countries and one of only six official languages of the United Nations.
Arabic-to-English translation can be an essential tool for businesses seeking global expansion. However, translating from Arabic to English isn’t without its challenges. Over hundreds of years, Arabic has evolved to encompass dozens of dialects, some of which aren’t mutually intelligible. In addition, translators must consider cultural nuances and grammatical idiosyncrasies when localizing messaging.
This guide will explore the best tools to translate Arabic to English and unpack the most significant challenges of Arabic translation so you can prepare to localize your content for global audiences.
Top 5 tools for translating from Arabic to English
Businesses that need to translate Arabic websites and internal materials often use advanced, AI-powered translation platforms to automate the process. Here are six of the most popular options, with breakdowns of their key features, use cases, and pricing models:
1. Smartling
Smartling’s all-in-one translation management system streamlines workflows and provides AI tools and human translation tools for fast, high-quality translations. It’s one of the most effective solutions to translate from Arabic to English.
Top features:
- AI Translation, which leverages numerous AIs, LLMs, and machine translation engines to deliver affordable and accurate text
- Integration with dozens of content management systems, marketing solutions, and sales platforms
- CAT tool that provides support and visual context for right-to-left and left-to-right languages to ensure smooth translation
- Linguistic asset management, including translation memory and style guides, for rapid and consistent translations
Use cases:
- Enterprise localization for websites, apps, and marketing content
- Teams that require automation and workflow integration for consistency across assets
Pricing:
- Explore Smartling’s plans and book a meeting for a custom quote
2. Google Translate
Google Translate is a machine translation tool that uses deep learning models to translate content.
Top features:
- Free, instant translation for text, speech, images, documents, and websites
- Voice input, handwriting, and offline mode options
- Paid API for large-scale integration with apps and websites
Use cases:
- Quick, casual translations for travelers, students, and everyday users
- Website and document translation for business use
Pricing:
- Free for everyday users.
- Tiered pay-as-you-go pricing for API Cloud Translation
3. Bing Translator
Bing Translator is Microsoft’s translation service, offered through its Bing search engine. It provides translations using advanced machine learning.
Top features:
- Free online translation for text, documents, and websites
- Supports voice input and language detection
- Paid API for business integration and custom translation models
Use cases:
- Everyday translation for personal and business communication
- Simple translation use cases for developers and businesses
Pricing:
- Free for everyday use.
- Business pricing is pay-as-you-go through Microsoft’s Azure AI Services
4. DeepL
DeepL is an advanced neural machine translation tool available via web, desktop, and API platforms. Arabic was the first right-to-left language supported by DeepL.
Top features:
- Advanced neural network for highly accurate, context-aware translations
- Customizable output and user-friendly interface
- API for integration into workflows
Use cases:
- Nuanced translations for professionals and businesses
- Translating lengthy or complex documents
Pricing:
- Free for basic use with some limitations
- DeepL Pro plans start at $8.74 per month
5. Almaany
Almaany is an Arabic-focused dictionary website and app that provides translations between Arabic and other languages.
Top features:
- Comprehensive Arabic-English dictionary and word translation
- Precise definitions and linguistic support
- Ideal for vocabulary, synonyms, and contextual meanings
Use cases:
- Dictionary-based translations for students, linguists, and researchers
- Understanding specific word meanings rather than full-text translation
Pricing:
- Free for core dictionary features
4 challenges of Arabic translation
Whether you’re relying on an AI translation platform or a human expert, it’s important to understand the key challenges of translating from Arabic to English, as they can impact the quality of your content. These include:
- Right-to-left formatting: Arabic script uses right-to-left formatting, whereas English uses left-to-right formatting. Internationalization ensures your website can handle these formatting and design changes by adapting the architecture of your site and separating user interface (UI) elements from content.
- Letters and tones with no English equivalents: The Arabic alphabet has 28 letters—two more than English. It also has special tones that aren’t found in any other language and can be difficult for non-Arabic speakers to pronounce. This makes transcribing proper nouns difficult, as many letters and sounds have no English equivalent.
- Regional dialects: Dozens of countries are home to Arabic speakers, and many regions have distinct dialects and pronunciations. Arabic translators must account for these nuances when localizing for specific audiences.
- Grammar: English grammar differs greatly from Arabic grammar, especially regarding verbs and prepositions. For example, Arabic has no “to be” verb—a vital component in many English sentences. It also doesn’t distinguish between the past and present in tenses.
Streamline Arabic-to-English translations with Smartling
Businesses that can translate content between Arabic and English unlock new global markets and engage local audiences worldwide. However, translating from Arabic to English can be challenging due to cultural, linguistic, and technological hurdles.
Fortunately, Smartling optimizes Arabic translation efforts at scale. Smartling’s AI-powered tools and translation management platform are built to handle the intricacies of Arabic text, whether you’re translating marketing materials or technical documents. With Smartling’s translation platform, you can easily adapt content for global customers with speed and efficiency.
Looking for more guidance on localizing marketing messages? Download our free eBook, “Translating for EMEA Markets: Tips from Local Experts,” for valuable insights about Arabic, Spanish, French, German, and Italian translations.
