Translate an Excel file into German

What German changes in a spreadsheet

In a workbook, text sits in fixed-width cells. German brings three practical issues.

• Compound nouns. A two-word header often becomes one long word that Excel cannot break: VAT ID becomes Umsatzsteuer-Identifikationsnummer, Supplier name becomes Lieferantenbezeichnung. German text is often 20 to 35% longer than English, and a short label can double in width.
• Capitalised nouns. Delivery date gives Lieferdatum, quantity ordered gives bestellte Menge: every noun takes a capital, even mid-cell. Sorting a translated column alphabetically may produce a different order.
• Register. On an input sheet for a business partner, instructions use the formal Sie: Please enter the item number becomes Bitte tragen Sie die Artikelnummer ein.

German has only two plural forms (one, other): 1 Artikel, 3 Artikel. Easy in a text cell, but see below for text built by formulas.

What Manuce returns, and what it does not do

You receive your file in its original format, with the text replaced in place, plus a Word version, a PDF and the plain text.

• Text cells on every sheet of the workbook are translated.
• Formulas are left alone: a calculated cell keeps its formula and keeps calculating; numbers, dates and amounts stay as they are.
• Column widths, colours, borders, number formats, filters and merged cells are preserved.

What is not done:

• Sheet tab names stay in the source language (Sales does not become Umsatz).
• Cell comments, charts and shapes or text boxes placed on the sheet are not translated.
• A narrow column is not widened: with German compounds, longer text may be cut off on screen, just as it would be in the original.

Manuce does not produce sworn or certified translations: if a German authority requires a beglaubigte Übersetzung, you will need a sworn translator.

Formulas, numbers and dates: the German pitfalls

Because formulas are untouched, any text written inside a formula is not translated. For example:

• ="Total: "&B12 will still show Total: rather than Summe:.
• =IF(C2>0,"Paid","Pending") will still return Paid instead of Bezahlt.
• =B2&" items" will not produce 1 Artikel / 3 Artikel.

The fix: put these labels in ordinary text cells (a small label table works well) and reference them from the formula. They will then be translated.

Function names are not a concern: German Excel displays SUMME for SUM on its own. Likewise, genuine numbers and dates display according to the reader's settings, such as 1.234,56 and 31.03.2025 in Germany. A number typed as text (£1,234.56 entered as a string), however, stays a string and will not adapt.

Preparing the workbook and checking the result

Before uploading:

• Convert values stored as text into real numbers and dates.
• Move visible labels out of formulas ("Total", "Yes", "No").
• If a chart must read in German, have its series names and categories pulled from cells rather than typed into the chart: labels linked to cells generally follow the translated text.
• Copy the content of important comments into a cell.

After delivery:

• Turn on text wrapping for header rows or widen columns where a compound is cut off; otherwise standard abbreviations help: Nr., MwSt., ggf., inkl.
• Rename tabs by hand (Sales → Umsatz); when you rename a tab within Excel, formulas pointing to it are updated.
• Check sorting and filters on translated columns.

For an internal tracker, the Essential level is enough; for a price list or schedule sent to a German client, the Professional level is the better fit.

In practice

1. Convert numbers and dates stored as text, and move labels out of formulas.
2. Upload the .xlsx and choose German: the quote appears, based on the exact word count.
3. Read the free one-paragraph sample at your chosen level, then pay.
4. Download the translated workbook with its Word, PDF and plain-text versions.
5. Widen narrow columns and rename the sheet tabs by hand.