While an English-to-French or French-to-English dictionary on your desk won’t take care all of your dealings with French-speaking business professionals, it is a step in the right direction to improve communication skills. A French dictionary can help you learn basic business terms you see every day in your field of expertise, and, even better, online French translation services can decode blocks of text into English or French with just the click of a button.

As you explore the many French dictionaries available online, consider ease of use and reputation of the site, and when it comes to French translation services, sometimes “free” can be costly. Many websites trick you into thinking you just need to copy and paste a block of text onto the site for a translation when in actuality, you’ll be directed to a page listing a range of services and fees. Consider the following when exploring online French dictionaries:

1. Choose an English-to-French dictionary to assist with communication generated on your end of the business relationship.

2. Select a French-to-English dictionary to help translate correspondence from French-speaking business associates.

3. Opt for French translation services – free or otherwise – to assist you with more involved business communication needs.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Select an easy-to-use English-to-French dictionary

An English-French dictionary is a must-have item if you are directly involved in business correspondence with French-speaking customers or associates. Even if you become more comfortable with the French language, you'll go back to this tool again and again.

I recommend: WordReference.com makes it simple to translate English terms and phrases (more than 100,000 of them!) from English to French. LookWayUp is another great source. Click “More” next to the definition to find synonyms of the word in French.

Choose a French-to-English dictionary source online

When an obscure French word in a business document has you stumped or you need to translate a simple document like a product list from French to English, turn to online French-to-English dictionaries.

I recommend: The ARTFL Project can translate nearly 75,000 terms from French to English and vice versa. Javamex UK also offers an easy-to-use French-English dictionary.

Find an online English-to-French dictionary with translation services

When that obscure French word or two turns into an entire business document that has you baffled, copy and paste the text into an online French translator. Many of these sites will give you the option of paying for a more complete translation for a fee.

I recommend: Check out PROMT when you need a quick translation of a block of text from English to French. Get a basic translation of some text from the free translation tool on SDL, or choose its Advanced Translation Options for a fee that provides a more accurate translation and can handle larger quantities of text. Both websites will work the other way (from French to English), too.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Appease staff members who prefer to thumb through their dictionaries rather than scroll down them by choosing a French language dictionary with the same version available online and in hardback.