AI playbook · Customers

Translate messages and documents

Understand and reply to customers in other languages, and translate menus, signs and simple documents.

Setup: 5 minutesBeginner Get the prompt

The problem

Customers who do not share your language are hard to serve, and professional translation is expensive for small things.

Step by step

  1. Paste the message and ask for a translation and a short explanation of tone.
  2. Write your reply in your own language and ask for a translation in a friendly tone.
  3. For anything published, like a menu or sign, ask a native speaker to check it.

The prompt

Translate this message from {language} into English and tell me if the tone is friendly, neutral or upset. Then translate my reply into {language}, keeping a {tone} tone.

Message:
{message}

My reply:
{reply}

Replace the {highlighted} parts with your details, or fill them in with the prompt builder.

Check before you use it

  • Names, dates and numbers are unchanged.
  • Published translations are checked by a native speaker.

Privacy

  • Avoid pasting medical or legal documents.

Do’s and don’ts

Do

  • Keep the original next to the translation.
  • Ask for a back-translation on anything important.
  • Have a fluent speaker check anything printed or signed.

Don’t

  • Use machine translation alone for contracts, medical or safety information.
  • Translate idioms and jokes word for word.
  • Paste personal details you do not need.

When not to use AI for this

Legal contracts, medical instructions and safety notices need a professional translator.

Tools that can help

DeepLHigh-quality translation of text and whole documents.
Google GeminiGoogle’s assistant, also built into Gmail, Docs and Sheets on Google Workspace plans.
ChatGPTOpenAI’s general assistant for drafting, summarising, analysing files and brainstorming.

We are not paid by any of these companies, and we list well-known options, not a ranking. Features and plans change; check the provider’s site and its data terms before you sign up. See all AI tools by category.

Useful for

Restaurants and cafésOnline storesHotels, B&Bs and holiday rentalsTravel agents and tour operators

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