Translate a technical data sheet into German

What changes when a data sheet goes into German

German follows conventions that a technical reader notices straight away:

• Numbers: German uses a decimal comma and usually a full stop or thin space for thousands. An English 1,200 rpm becomes 1.200 U/min, and 0.5 mm becomes 0,5 mm. This is the first thing to check, because a misplaced separator changes the value.
• Units: a space between value and unit (230 V, 20 °C), ranges written as -20 bis +60 °C.
• Abbreviations: “approx.” becomes ca., “e.g.” becomes z. B., and “L × W × H” becomes L × B × H (Länge, Breite, Höhe).
• Capitals: every noun is capitalised, including table headers (Gewicht, Schutzart, Leistungsaufnahme).
• Style: German data sheets favour a nominal style (Montage: senkrecht); instructions use the infinitive (Nicht im Freien verwenden) or the formal Sie.

Specification tables and German compound nouns

The core of a data sheet is a narrow two-column table, and German creates a specific problem there: it fuses concepts into single words with no space to wrap on. “Ambient temperature range” becomes Umgebungstemperaturbereich; “protective earth connection” becomes Schutzleiteranschluss.

In practice:

• a label that fitted on one line may overflow its cell or break awkwardly;
• a sheet designed for two pages may run to three;
• plurals change with quantity (CLDR categories one and other): 1 Ausgang but 4 Ausgänge. A fixed “output(s)” needs rewording.

German text is often 20 to 35 % longer than English, but it is the single very long words that break a layout. Widen the label column in the source file or allow hyphenation in Word before you upload.

German technical vocabulary: common traps

The same errors keep appearing in data sheets translated into German:

• Maße and Masse: Maße means dimensions, Masse means mass. Swiss spelling replaces “ß” with “ss”, so both become Masse. If the sheet is aimed at Switzerland, check this.
• Leistung covers both power and performance; context must make it clear (Nennleistung for rated power).
• Ingress protection is written Schutzart IP65, not translated literally.
• Standards keep their references, with the German prefix where it applies (DIN EN ISO 9001).
• Part numbers and trade names should not be translated. Check them in the free sample, then in the delivered file.

What Manuce delivers, and what it does not do

Your data sheet is handled by Dédale, the engine specialised in technical texts. You get the same file back in German, in its original format: Word, PDF, PowerPoint, Excel, plain text, Markdown, HTML, RTF or CSV, layout included. A sheet of around 900 words is delivered within minutes and stays available in your client area. German is charged at the base rate (coefficient ×1).

What Manuce does not do:

• it cannot read a scanned PDF (an image with no selectable text), which is common with older supplier sheets;
• it does not produce sworn or certified translations: if an authority requires a version certified by a sworn translator, you will need one;
• it does not replace checking the values with your engineering team.

The Essentiel level is enough to understand a German supplier's sheet; Professionnel suits a sheet you will send to German-speaking customers.

Preparing the file and checking the result

Before uploading:

• use the native file (Word, Excel) rather than an exported PDF: tables adapt better to longer text;
• if you only have a PDF, make sure you can select its text;
• widen the label column and leave some space at the foot of each page.

After delivery, check:

1. numbers and separators, line by line (1.200, not 1,200);
2. cells where a compound noun overflows;
3. part numbers, product names and standards, which should be unchanged;
4. the page count, if the sheet must fit on one double-sided page.

In practice

1. Upload the data sheet, ideally as Word or Excel, or as a PDF with selectable text.
2. Choose German and a level: the quote appears at once, based on the exact word count.
3. Read the free sample and check units, separators and part numbers.
4. Pay, then download the German sheet in its original format.
5. Check table cells and page breaks before sending it out.