French Language Translation

World class French language translation from qualified professional linguists

At Alexika, we offer professional translations between French and all of the world’s major languages.

• Number of French native speakers globally: 220 million
• Number of countries where French is an official language: 29
• Approx. percentage of world trade conducted in French: 6.5%

French is one of the world’s most widely spoken languages, a legacy of France’s position as Europe’s leading power during the 17th to the 19th centuries. It’s still one of the world’s most important business languages, and has been ranked as the number one language needed for business purposes by UK businesses.

French is spoken in France, Canada, Switzerland, Belgium and Luxembourg, as well as numerous countries across Africa and the Middle East.

It is a Romance language, descended from Old Latin, with Celtic and Germanic influences, and the earliest known example of written French dates back to 842. The standard for modern French is based on the dialect of Paris, called Francien, which has been the official standard language since the mid-16th century.

The Académie française acts as an official authority on the French language. Its 40 members (les immortels) define standards for vocabulary, grammar and ’le bon usage’. It is also responsible for publishing a dictionary and sanctioning new words. With English becoming the world’s lingua franca, there is plenty to keep the Académie busy.

At Alexika, we’ve been providing world-class professional French translations since 1998. Whether a marketing campaign, engineering manual, patent documentation or something else, trust us to provide a prompt, professional and authentic service.

Interesting to bear in mind with French translation…

When translating to and from French, allow flexibility in the layout of your documents. French to English translations typically contract by about 10–15%, depending on the subject matter. English to French translations typically expand by about 15–20%.

The target market, or country where the translation will be used, should also be considered carefully. The French spoken in France, for example, differs to that spoken in Canada.