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

As you explore the many Spanish dictionaries available online, consider ease of use and reputation of the site, and when it comes to Spanish 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 Spanish dictionaries:

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

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

3. Opt for Spanish 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-Spanish dictionary

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

I recommend: WordReference.com has a free English-to-Spanish dictionary. LookWayUp's English to Spanish dictionary will correct your spelling automatically for you if you type it incorrectly into the box.

Choose a Spanish-to-English dictionary source online

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

I recommend: Reverso Dictionary helps you translate a word or phrase from Spanish to English. A.D. Miles offers a Spanish-English dictionary of business terms that may come in handy at your company.

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

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

I recommend: SpanishDict offers an online Spanish translation service. Just cut and paste your text into the field, and the site will pull translations from three of the top translations engines. PROMT is another source for translating blocks of text from English to Spanish. Both websites will work the other way (from Spanish 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 Spanish language dictionary with the same version available online and in hardback.