translate (Unofficial API Client)

3.8.0 · active · verified Wed Apr 15

The `translate` library (by terryyin) is a simple command-line and Python module translator. It aims to provide translations using services like Google Translate, but operates as an unofficial client. The current version, 3.8.0, was last released on November 2, 2025, and maintains an active, albeit infrequent, release schedule.

Warnings

breaking This library is an *unofficial* client for web translation services (including Google Translate's web interface). It does not use an official API key and is therefore susceptible to breaking changes if the underlying web services modify their structure or anti-bot measures. Stability is not guaranteed.
Fix: For production-grade or highly stable translation, consider using official, paid APIs like Google Cloud Translation API (via `google-cloud-translate` library) or other commercial translation services.
gotcha The default translation provider for the `translate` library (as of v3.3.0 and onwards) is MyMemory, which imposes free usage limits (e.g., 1000 words/day). Exceeding this limit will result in errors. While the library can be configured to use other providers (e.g., Google, Microsoft, DeepL), these may require explicit configuration and potentially a `secret_access_key`.
Fix: Monitor your usage to stay within free limits or configure a different provider. To use another provider, initialize the Translator with `Translator(provider='<provider_name>', to_lang='...', secret_access_key='<your_key>')`. Check provider-specific documentation for key requirements and usage.
gotcha Frequent or high-volume requests, especially when using providers that wrap public web interfaces, can lead to aggressive rate limiting, temporary IP bans (resulting in HTTP 5xx errors), or CAPTCHA challenges.
Fix: Implement delays between translation requests, use caching for frequently translated phrases, and incorporate robust error handling with retry mechanisms. Consider official APIs for high-volume needs.
gotcha Translations obtained through unofficial web-scraping methods, as used by this library, may lack the accuracy, nuance, and context-awareness provided by official, paid APIs. This can lead to less reliable or contextually incorrect results, particularly for complex, technical, or sensitive texts.
Fix: For critical applications, manually review translated content. If higher accuracy and contextual understanding are paramount, invest in official translation APIs that offer features like glossaries, custom models, and better context handling.

Install

pip install translate Install latest version

Imports

Translator
```
from translate import Translator
```

Quickstart

The quickstart demonstrates basic text translation using the `Translator` class. It initializes a translator for a target language (e.g., French) and attempts to translate a given string. Users should be aware of the default provider and potential rate limits, as detailed in the warnings section.

from translate import Translator

# Initialize translator, specifying the target language
# The default provider is MyMemory, which has free usage limits.
# For other providers like Google, Microsoft, or DeepL, specify them
# along with a 'secret_access_key' if required (see warnings).
translator = Translator(to_lang="fr")

text_to_translate = "Hello, world!"

try:
    translation = translator.translate(text_to_translate)
    print(f"Original: {text_to_translate}")
    print(f"Translated (French): {translation}")
except Exception as e:
    print(f"An error occurred during translation: {e}")
    print("Note: The default provider (MyMemory) has free usage limits. You might have exceeded them.")

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