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Quick Answer

GOOGLETRANSLATE Function

GOOGLETRANSLATE translates text in a cell from a source language to a target language.

✓ Excel✓ Google SheetsExcel Google Sheets only

Syntax

GOOGLETRANSLATE
(text, [source_language], [target_language])

Parameters

ParameterDescriptionRequired
textThe text to translate. Can be a string literal or a cell reference.Required
source_languageThe two-letter language code of the original text, e.g. 'en' for English. If omitted, Google auto-detects the language.Optional
target_languageThe two-letter language code to translate into, e.g. 'es' for Spanish. Default is the sheet's locale language.Optional

Basic Example

Translate 'Hello' from English to Spanish

=GOOGLETRANSLATE('Hello', 'en', 'es')
ResultHola

The text 'Hello' is translated from English ('en') to Spanish ('es').

Advanced Examples

Example 1: Translate a whole column

Localization

Translate customer feedback from French to English for all rows

=ARRAYFORMULA(GOOGLETRANSLATE(A2:A100, 'fr', 'en'))
Result: English translations of French feedback
ARRAYFORMULA applies GOOGLETRANSLATE to each cell in A2:A100.

Example 2: Auto-detect source language

Mixed-language data

Translate text without knowing the source language

=GOOGLETRANSLATE(A2, 'auto', 'en')
Result: English translation
Using 'auto' lets Google detect the source language automatically.

How GOOGLETRANSLATE Works

GOOGLETRANSLATE sends the provided text to Google Translate and returns the translated result. It supports two-letter language codes (ISO 639-1). If the source language is omitted, it is auto-detected. If the target language is omitted, the sheet's default language is used.

1
Select the text
Click the cell containing the text you want to translate, or type a string literal.
2
Choose languages
Provide source and target language codes, e.g. 'en' and 'es'.
3
Enter the formula
Type =GOOGLETRANSLATE(text, source, target).
4
Copy down if needed
Use ARRAYFORMULA or fill down to translate multiple cells.

Important Notes & Limitations

  • GOOGLETRANSLATE is Google Sheets only and has no native Excel equivalent.

  • It requires an internet connection to call Google Translate.

  • Translation quality may vary for technical or idiomatic text.

  • Heavy use may be rate-limited by Google.

Common Errors & Fixes

#VALUE! errorLanguage code is not recognized or is not two letters.

Fix: Use valid ISO 639-1 codes such as 'en', 'es', 'fr', 'de', 'zh'.

No translation returnedThe text is empty or the source and target languages are the same.

Fix: Check that the cell contains text and the languages are different.

Loading...The formula is waiting for the Google Translate service to respond.

Fix: Wait a moment; if it persists, check your internet connection.

Download Practice File

Practice GOOGLETRANSLATE with Real Data

Download a sample CSV file with pre-populated data and practice exercises for the GOOGLETRANSLATE function. Works in both Excel and Google Sheets.

Works in Google SheetsCompatible with ExcelIncludes exercises

File format: CSV (comma-separated values) - opens in Excel, Google Sheets, and all spreadsheet apps

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I translate an entire sheet?
Yes, wrap GOOGLETRANSLATE in ARRAYFORMULA or copy the formula down a column.
Does it work offline?
No, it requires an internet connection to reach Google Translate.
What language codes should I use?
Use ISO 639-1 codes like 'en' for English, 'es' for Spanish, 'de' for German, 'fr' for French, 'ja' for Japanese, 'zh' for Chinese.
Can I translate in Excel?
Excel has no built-in GOOGLETRANSLATE. You can use the Microsoft Translator add-in or an API call with Power Query.