German-to-Italian translation: Reserve and restraint meet verve and vivacity

Italy has a very special effect on people north of the Alps. This is reason enough to order a German-to-Italian translation of your content, because if your products can compete in Italy, they can do it anywhere.

The language of art and literature

Italy has romance and nostalgia woven into its very fabric – and not just since Goethe went there to seek and find his creativity. Since antiquity, the “bel paese” has had so much to offer in terms of art, culture and one of the world’s best cuisines. And that’s exactly what is expressed in the language. The first written documents in Italian date back to the 9th century. The language experienced its first golden age in the 14th century in Florence with writers Dante, Petrarch and Boccaccio. Nevertheless, when Italy was founded as a modern nation state in 1861, only around 2.5 percent of the population understood Italian at all; most inhabitants only spoke dialects.

Navigating the Italian language is not always easy for German speakers. The grammatical and etymological differences are quite extreme. Learning French or Spanish first is a great advantage, as they can be used as a bridge to access Italian more easily. For Italian speakers, on the other hand, mastering the use of German compound words – known for their sometimes formidable length and which make the language as flexible as it is unwieldy – can be a challenge. And transforming these behemoths into idiomatic Italian is the true test for German-to-Italian translations.

A small region – two different worlds

Around 65 million people in total speak Italian as their mother tongue. The only countries that have Italian as an official language are Italy, Switzerland and San Marino. Although the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland borders Italy, the linguistic differences can be considerable. This applies in particular to Helvetisms used by Italian-speaking Swiss, which are not always comprehensible to Italians. Helvetisms are expressions from the German- and French-speaking parts of the country that are also incorporated into Swiss Italian.

Things to keep in mind when ordering a German-to-Italian translation

If you need a text translated into Italian, be sure to tell the translator whether the target audience is in Italy or in Ticino – the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland. It’s always a wise strategy to take advantage of the skills of a professional translator who is familiar with language use and local contexts in both Ticino and Italy.

Are you planning to have your content translated into Italian? SwissGlobal combines enhanced Swiss quality with an extensive global reach. We ensure that your communication is a success in all the world’s languages and cultures. Our experienced team collaborates with a network of more than 400 professional language experts around the globe. Contact us to receive an offer with absolutely no obligation.