The world is developing an ever-increasing global economy. This uptick in expansion into new markets means an increased demand for language translation services. Translating languages helps businesses connect with global audiences, driving revenue and making their companies an international success. But which language translation service should you invest in?

This article aims to analyse the most translated language pairs in the UK. We will also try to understand how language pairs correlate with trade, helping you decide on the best language translation for your unique business goals.

Why Do UK Businesses Need Language Translation?

Before we delve into the most popular language translation pairs, let’s answer one crucial question: Why is translating languages important? In the most basic sense, translating languages helps facilitate communication – but there are several reasons why this is crucial for business:

• Helps to make your transactions more transparent: It would be difficult, perhaps more costly, to engage in mutually beneficial exchange without language translation. Moreover, the outcome of such communication might be less predictable. This could lead to unhappy customers or worse – financial losses and legal upset.
• Helps to drive revenue and increase sales internationally: The ability to speak a foreign language or communicate in languages other than English can yield economic payoffs. You can begin to trade in international markets. And with good language translation, you can connect with customers and build brand loyalty worldwide.
• Helps to appeal to a wider UK audience: The UK is a country full of different nationalities. Some of these individuals arrived in the UK long ago, whereas others arrived recently, searching for the communities to find their feet. Translating content into foreign languages helps to reach the entire multicultural UK population.

What Are the Most Popular Language Translation Pairs in the UK?

Considering that the de facto language of the UK is English, you’ll be unsurprised to discover that English is in every top language translation pair. British businesses are translating English content into other languages, while companies brought into the UK are looking to do the opposite and make their content understandable to English speakers.

The other half of the equation is less easy to guess! Here are the most in-demand languages in the UK:

1. Arabic Translation

Arabic and English are the most in-demand language translation pair in the UK. Translating into the Arabic language is notoriously challenging, especially for English speakers. This could partially explain why it is highly sought after – companies need professionals to translate Arabic accurately.

Arabic is also natively spoken across a multitude of rapidly growing markets. For this reason, it is one of the most important languages in the business world. And while it was overlooked in the past, imports and exports between the UK and Arabic-speaking nations have grown. This rise in trade indicates that Arabic translation services for document translation are needed.

2. Chinese Translation

China has one of the largest growing markets worldwide. Translating languages such as Chinese is thus sought-after by any UK business wanting to enter the thriving Asian market. Many Chinese products are also being brought into Great Britain, requiring translations from Chinese to English.

On top of its market size and business potential, Chinese is also the most spoken native language in the world. There are more than 1 billion speakers globally! With the significant number of Chinese speakers comes the need for professional language translation services. It is also one of the official languages of the UN and has long been recognised as a business language.

3. Spanish Translation

It’s not surprising that Spanish is among the UK’s most popular language translation services. Spain is an important business partner for the UK. While trade between both countries has slowed following Brexit, it is still relatively high compared to other EU nations.

The thing about Spanish is that it isn’t simply just for Spain! Central and South America have some of the largest concentrations of Spanish speakers, and it is an official language in 21 countries. Translating into the Spanish language thus helps companies engage audiences not just from Europe but from all corners of the globe.

4. German Translation

German translations are another highly requested language translation service in the UK. Germany is one of the UK’s largest European trade partners, surpassing even France with its high numbers of imports and exports. German is also one of the official languages in Switzerland, another strong UK trading partner.

Translating languages used for trade is crucial for any company expanding overseas. The companies bringing products into the UK also rely on these services. The imports and exports with Germany cover a number of sectors, including technical and medical industries.

5. French Translation

French language translation is also in high demand in the UK. Both countries have a long, intertwined history, and the French market has had significant ties with the UK market. French consumers and organisations are approaching the UK market, and UK businesses are targeting French customers.

French is also considered a global language, spoken in countries such as Belgium, Canada, Luxembourg, Rwanda, Switzerland, and Morocco. Translating languages spoken worldwide is a smart move for businesses wanting to grow into global markets. With one translation, your content can be understood on several continents.

Future Predictions for Popular UK Language Translation Pairs

As we have uncovered, many of the UK’s most in-demand language translation services are of previously rare language pairs. As economies continue to shift, the most common languages that translation agencies work on will continue to move accordingly.

Since Central Europe houses the continent’s fastest-growing region, its languages are increasing in demand. Certain nations with growth rates of about 4%, like Slovakia, Hungary, and Poland, are becoming important markets. These markets aren’t as saturated as those in France and Germany, meaning there is room for growth.

This room for growth means translating languages such as Polish, Slovak and Hungarian are likely to rise in the near future. All brands must work with translation companies that can provide professional language translation services to enter these markets ahead of the curve.

Language Translation Services you Can Rely on…

Whether you want to translate into any of these common UK language pairs or any other language, Renaissance Translations can help. With a network of over 5,000 professional translators, our company offers comprehensive language translation services in more than 120 languages. Translating languages is what we do best!

Our Company is member of the Association of Translation Companies in England as well as SDL LSP Partner Programme. Get in touch today with our professional project managers to discuss your project. Alternatively, you can request a quote online to begin budgeting for your project.