Specialist translation from €0.12/wordSpecialist translation. By humans, by experts.
A specialist translation is the human translation for everything AI does not reliably handle: contracts, technical documentation, clinical reports and marketing texts. Translated by industry experts into their native language, to ISO 17100. Request a quote.
Four ISO certificationsOver 140,000 clients trust our specialist translations
- What it is: The human translation of specialist texts by industry experts to ISO 17100. The human counterpart to machine translation.
- What for: Contracts, technical documentation, study reports, marketing and everything that goes public or is regulated.
- Translators: Native speakers with academic training and industry experience, selected to ISO 17100.
- Cost: From €0.12/word. Cheaper levels available via post-editing. Up to 70% off through a translation memory.
What is a specialist translation?
The human translation with subject expertise
A specialist translation is the human rendering of a text that requires specific subject knowledge, by a trained translator with industry experience. Unlike machine translation, a specialist translator commands the language as well as the terminology and the subject-matter context of their field. Specialist translations fall under the quality standard DIN EN ISO 17100.
The difference shows in the detail. The word "bank" can mean a financial institution, a blood bank in medicine, or the side of a river. "Baseline" means the starting value in a clinical study, and something different again in statistics. A specialist translator reads the context at once, recognises the right meaning and picks the correct target term. Exactly where ambiguity, specialist terminology or public impact come into play, human specialist translation has the edge over machine translation.
Specialist translation or machine?
When the human route pays off
Not every text needs a human specialist translation. For internal documents and large volumes, machine translation or post-editing is often enough. But as soon as a text goes public, is regulated or carries your brand, human specialist translation decides the impact. This table places the three routes:
| Criterion | Machine Translation | Post-Editing | Specialist translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who translates | AI | AI, reviewed by a human | Specialist translator |
| Standard | none | ISO 18587 | ISO 17100 |
| Price from | €0.06/word | €0.05/word | €0.12/word |
| Style & terminology | limited | solid | consistent throughout |
| Suitable for | internal texts, volume | middle ground, speed | public-facing, regulated texts |
The full range, and the right choice for your case, is set out in our overview of professional translation. For purely machine or hybrid routes there are dedicated pages on machine translation and post-editing.
Specialist translations for your industry
Specialised translators for every field
For every project we choose a translator who knows your industry: the standards, the terminology, the typical document formats. A selection of our fields:
Operating manuals, specifications, safety data sheets. Learn more
Clinical study reports, package inserts, marketing authorisation applications. Learn more
Contracts, terms and conditions, compliance reports. Legal translations and contract translation
Annual reports, prospectuses, risk analyses. Learn more
API documentation, manuals, release notes. Learn more
Product descriptions, shop content, catalogues. Learn more
More fields: automotive, science, literature and more. Full overview on the industries page.
What does a specialist translation cost?
Price, factors and a worked example
A specialist translation costs from €0.12/word. The exact price depends on the language combination, the subject field, the volume and any add-on services. Two factors bring the cost down noticeably: a translation memory for repetitions and a glossary for consistent terminology.
When speed counts, a specialist translation is also available as an express translation in 24 hours. When official recognition is required, combine it with certification.
How tolingo ensures quality
Native-speaker principle, terminology and ISO processes
Every specialist translation follows a structured, human review process. Three elements are central to it.
Native-speaker principle
All translations are produced by native speakers into their respective native language. This ensures natural phrasing, correct idiom and cultural fit. Our translators hold an academic qualification or an equivalent qualification to ISO 17100.
Terminology and the four-eyes principle
For recurring orders we build a client-specific terminology database on request. On request, a second specialist translator reviews the translation in a separate editing step under the four-eyes principle.
ISO-certified processes
tolingo is certified to ISO 9001, 27001, 17100 and 18587: documented processes, traceable quality assurance, regular external audits. Sensitive documents are protected by our information security management to ISO 27001.
Discuss your project?
Send us your documents and receive a quote with price, delivery date and a translator recommendation.
Free · No obligation · Reply in ~10 minutes (business hours)How your specialist translation works
In four steps to the finished document
For every project we select the right specialist translator specifically by document type, subject field and language combination.
- Subject-field matching
We assign your project a translator with proven expertise in your industry, familiar with the relevant norms and standards.
- Terminology setup
Where needed, your company and product terminology feeds into a dedicated database. Existing glossaries and style guides are taken into account.
- Translation and review
The specialist translator renders your text with correct terminology. On request, a second translator reviews it in a separate editing step under the four-eyes principle.
- Delivery
You receive your translation on time in the format you need. Where required, we handle the layout adaptation (DTP).
Client testimonials
What our clients say about working with us
"I am delighted. What I like most is the very friendly, personal service and the high quality of the translation."
"The flexibility on unusual projects is a real plus. tolingo is open to creative solutions too."
"We are very happy with both the service and the customer support. tolingo is always reliable and, above all, punctual."
220+ languages for your specialist translation
From world languages to niche languages
Our network of over 6,000 specialist translators covers more than 220 language combinations. The most requested: German-English, German-French and German-Spanish. Combinations without German are possible too. For multilingual projects we coordinate all language versions centrally, so terminology and style stay consistent.
Start your specialist translation
Send us your documents. We assess the scope and recommend the right language combination and service level.
Free · Reply in ~10 minutes (business hours) · 97.8% customer satisfactionGlossary
Terms around specialist translations
- ISO 17100
- International standard for human translation services. It defines translator qualifications, the four-eyes principle and quality assurance.
- Native-speaker principle
- Principle whereby a translator works only into their native language. Ensures natural phrasing and correct idiom.
- Four-eyes principle
- A second specialist translator checks the translation for terminology, completeness and style. Core to ISO 17100.
- Translation memory
- A database that stores translated sentences and re-suggests them on repetition. Lowers costs by up to 70%.
Frequently asked questions about specialist translation
Answers to the key questions
What does a specialist translation cost?
A specialist translation costs from €0.12/word. The exact price depends on the language combination, subject field and add-on services such as editing or express. A translation memory lowers costs on repetitions by up to 70%. Details on the pricing page.
What is the difference between specialist translation and machine translation?
A specialist translation is produced by a human industry expert to ISO 17100. Machine translation is generated by AI. Between the two sits post-editing, where a human reviews the AI pre-translation. For regulated and customer-facing texts, human specialist translation is the standard.
How quickly will my specialist translation be ready?
Standard deliveries take a few days depending on volume. For time-critical projects we offer express in 24 hours and super-express. Every quote includes a firm delivery date.
What qualifications do the specialist translators have?
Our translators work to ISO 17100: an academic qualification in translation studies or an equivalent qualification, plus professional experience in the relevant field. They translate into their native language.
Which languages do you offer for specialist translations?
Over 220 language combinations, including all EU languages, Asian languages such as Japanese and Chinese, and Arabic. Our network comprises over 6,000 specialist translators worldwide.
Which add-on services are worth considering for a specialist translation?
For recurring orders, a translation memory for consistency and lower costs. A glossary for uniform terminology. For demanding texts, editing under the four-eyes principle.
How do I order a specialist translation?
Individual documents directly through our web shop. For larger projects or regular needs, we recommend getting in touch. We assess your requirements and put together a suitable quote.
How do you ensure compliance with industry-specific regulations?
Our ISO-certified processes provide documented quality assurance with an audit trail. For regulated content, the responsible specialist translators check for compliance with industry requirements. Sensitive data is protected by our information security management to ISO 27001.