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Manstaway's avatar
Manstaway
Copper Contributor
Feb 25, 2026

How to translate dutch to english for word and pdf document?

Hi everyone,

There are several Word (.docx) and PDF documents in Dutch that need to be translated into English. The files are a mix of text-heavy reports and some PDFs with complex formatting. Manual copy and paste into online translators is not practical because the documents are long and formatting gets lost.

What is the best way to translate dutch to english for word and pdf document while keeping the original layout as much as possible? Is there reliable free software for Windows or Mac that can handle batch translation?

9 Replies

  • Angelique's avatar
    Angelique
    Iron Contributor

    Bing translator is pretty good for dutch to english translation.

  • Keikoe's avatar
    Keikoe
    Copper Contributor

    If you're looking to translate Dutch to English for Word document using Translate Desktop on a Windows PC, here's a straightforward approach you can follow:

    First, ensure you have Translate Desktop installed. It's a free and lightweight translation tool that can help you translate text quickly. However, note that Translate Desktop typically works with copying and pasting text rather than directly translating entire Word documents.

    Here's the step-by-step process to translate Dutch to English for Word document:

    1. Open your Word document containing the Dutch text you want to translate.

    2. Copy the content you wish to translate (select the text and press Ctrl+C).

    3. Open Translate Desktop.

    4. Set the language pair:

    From: Dutch

    To: English

    5. Paste the copied text into Translate Desktop's input box.

    6. The tool will automatically translate the text into English.

    7. Copy the translated text from Translate Desktop.

    8. Open a new Word document or replace the original content with the translated version.

    Important: Since Translate Desktop doesn't support directly translating entire Word files, you'll need to copy and paste in chunks if your document is large. For full document translation, free online tools like Google Translate (via the web) can be more efficient.

  • Gracianon's avatar
    Gracianon
    Copper Contributor

    Using OmegaT to translate Dutch to English for a Word document on a Windows PC is a great option if you're looking for a more professional and flexible translation workflow. OmegaT is a free, open-source computer-assisted translation (CAT) tool designed to help translators work efficiently with various document formats.

    Here's how you can translate Dutch to English for Word document:

    First, you need to prepare your Word document. Save or export your Word file as a plain text (.txt) or compatible format that OmegaT can work with, or you can use OmegaT's ability to handle rich text formats depending on the setup.

    Next, open OmegaT and create a new project. Set up your source language as Dutch and your target language as English. Import your text or document files into the project.

    OmegaT will analyze the text and create segments for translation. You or a professional translator can then go through each segment, translating Dutch to English. The software provides translation memory and terminology tools to help ensure consistency and efficiency.

    Once you've completed the translation, you can export the translated segments back into a Word-compatible format, like RTF or DOCX, and open it in Word for final review and formatting.

    This process is especially useful for you translate Dutch to English for Word document when accuracy, consistency, and managing large or complex texts are important. OmegaT doesn't do the translation automatically but supports translators in creating high-quality translations efficiently.

  • Lauradosh's avatar
    Lauradosh
    Iron Contributor

    Learning to translate Dutch to English using Google Translate is a valuable skill that can help you understand Dutch texts, websites, and documents quickly and easily. Google Translate offers a free and accessible way to bridge the language gap, whether you need to translate a few words, an entire webpage, or a complete document. The process is straightforward and can be done from any device with an internet connection, making it a practical tool for students, travelers, and professionals alike.

    Here are the simple steps to translate from Dutch to English using Google Translate:

    Open your web browser and go to the Google Translate website (translate.google.com) .

    On the left side, ensure the language is set to "Dutch." On the right side, select "English" as the target language.

    Choose Your Translation Method:

    For Text: Type or paste the Dutch text into the left box. The English translation will appear instantly on the right.

    For Documents: Click on the "Documents" tab, upload your Dutch file, and click "Translate" to generate an English version you can download .

    For Webpages: Navigate to the Dutch webpage, right-click, and select "Translate to English" (in Chrome) or use your browser's built-in translation feature .

    In short, translating Dutch to English with Google Translate is a simple process that involves selecting the languages, inputting your content, and receiving an instant translation. While this tool is excellent for understanding the general meaning of texts, remember that automated translations may not always be perfect and should not be relied upon for official or legally binding purposes without human review .

  • Giovanni2230's avatar
    Giovanni2230
    Copper Contributor

    If you are looking for way to translate dutch to english for word document. Using the built-in translator in Microsoft Word is a convenient way to translate documents from Dutch to English directly within the application. This feature supports both Word documents and PDFs (after converting PDFs to Word format).

    How to translate Dutch to English for Word document using Microsoft Word:

    1. Open your Word document containing Dutch text.

    2. Go to the "Review" tab on the ribbon.

    3. Click on "Translate" in the toolbar.

    4. Select "Translate Document" from the dropdown menu.

    5. In the Translate pane that appears:

    Set From to Dutch.

    Set To to English.

    6. Click "Translate".

    7. Word will process the translation and open a new document with the translated content.

    For PDFs:

    First, convert the PDF to Word:

    • Open the PDF in Word (recent versions support opening PDFs directly).
    • Save or copy the content into a Word document.
    • Then, follow the steps above to translate the Word document.
  • EmmettBrooks's avatar
    EmmettBrooks
    Iron Contributor

    Google Translate Extension is a free, lightweight browser add-on developed by Google, supporting over 100 languages for translation. It integrates seamlessly with mainstream browsers like Chrome and Edge, offering features such as text selection translation, full-page translation, and PDF translation, making it highly suitable for users who need to translate Dutch to English for PDF documents in daily work and study.

    Usage Guide: After installing the extension from the Chrome Web Store, open your browser and set the source language to Dutch and the target language to English. For text-based PDF files, simply select the Dutch text within the browser, right-click, and choose ‘Translate with Google Translate’ to obtain an instant English translation. For scanned PDFs, you may use an OCR tool to extract the text, or open the PDF directly in Google Docs for translation. This method is both convenient and efficient: requiring no additional software, it operates entirely within the browser, enabling you to translate Dutch to English for PDF without complex steps.

    t's particularly useful for quick translations while working, translating Dutch PDF content for study or research, or handling multilingual documents on the go. Since it's a free extension from Google, it's completely free to use, and there's no need for paid subscriptions or additional tools.

  • Chuckumer's avatar
    Chuckumer
    Iron Contributor

    DeepL Translator is an AI-powered translation tool known for its high accuracy, especially for European languages like Dutch and English. It supports full document translation, including Word (.docx) and PDF files, while keeping much of the original formatting. Instead of copying and pasting text manually, users can upload entire documents and download a translated version in just a few minutes.

    DeepL is available as a web app, desktop application (Windows and Mac), and API service for automation or bulk translate from dutch to english. The Pro version offers better data privacy, larger file size limits, and advanced features, which makes it suitable for business users, researchers, and anyone who needs to translate multiple files efficiently.

    ✅ Pros

    Very high translation accuracy (especially for Dutch to English)

    Supports full document upload (Word and PDF)

    Preserves original formatting in most cases

    Desktop apps available for Windows and Mac

    API available for bulk and automated translation

    Strong data privacy option with Pro plan

    ❌ Cons

    File size limits on the free version

    PDF formatting may shift in complex layouts

    Pro version requires subscription

    Scanned PDFs require OCR before translation

    Limited customization compared to professional CAT tools

  • FinneasHayes's avatar
    FinneasHayes
    Iron Contributor

    GroupDocs Translation is a convenient web-based document translation tool requiring no registration to use, supporting 47 different document formats. It is particularly well-suited for users who need to translate Dutch to English for PDF, delivering swift and precise translations without the need for complex software.

    How to translate dutch to English for PDF

    1. Browser-based software
    2. Upload your Dutch PDF document directly to the website.
    3. Select Dutch as the source language and English as the target language.
    4. Click the translate button and await completion.
    5. Download the translated English PDF file to your device.

    Pros

    • Supports 47 document formats, including PDF
    • No software installation needed; works directly in any browser
    • Preserves the original layout and formatting of the PDF

    Cons

    • Translation accuracy may vary with highly technical or specialized content
    • No real-time editing of the translated document before download
  • JettStone's avatar
    JettStone
    Iron Contributor

    Crow Translate is a free, lightweight open-source translation tool supporting OCR screen capture, clipboard monitoring, and multiple translation engines. It is well-suited for users needing to translate Dutch to English for PDF, whether these documents are text-based or scanned copies.

    Step 1: Download and install the software from the official website; no registration is required.

    Step 2: Launch the software, set the source language to Dutch and the target language to English.

    Step 3: For text-based PDF files: Copy Dutch text directly from the document; the software can monitor the clipboard for automatic translation.

    Step 4: For scanned or image-based PDF files: Use the OCR screenshot function to select Dutch text; the software will automatically recognise and translate it into English.

    Step 5: Once translation is complete, copy the English text and paste it back into the PDF file as required.

    It seamlessly combines speed, simplicity and practicality to create this ingenious tool. Its lightweight design and robust functionality make it the ideal choice for users who frequently need to translate Dutch to English for PDF documents in their daily work and studies.