Why French to English is harder than it looks
French is more formal than English by default. A normal French email opens with a formula that has no English equivalent, and “Je vous prie d’agréer mes salutations distinguées” is simply “Kind regards.” Translated literally it sounds absurd in English. The useful move is to translate the intent, not the formula.
Vous carries politeness that English puts in word choice. Because English has only “you,” a vous message becomes indistinguishable from a tu one unless the vocabulary changes to match. Choosing a professional tone restores the distance; leaving it on the default makes a formal French message read as casual English.
Faux amis are everywhere. Actuellement means “currently,” éventuellement means “possibly,” sensible means “sensitive,” and demander means “to ask,” not “to demand.” These are the errors that change the meaning of a sentence rather than just its style, which is why reading the preview matters most on anything consequential.
French sentences are longer, and English prefers them shorter. A single French sentence with three subordinate clauses becomes two or three English ones. A translator that preserves the structure produces English that is grammatical but exhausting, so it is worth letting the sentence be rebuilt rather than mirrored.
Written by Hardik Vegad, Co-founder, Translatify. Last updated .
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