French translation services
FrançaisLEXIGO provides NAATI certified French translation across Australia for government, legal, business and education clients, and for the 62,000 people who speak French at home. We translate French to English and English to French in the variety your audience reads, whether France, Canada, Belgium, New Caledonia or francophone Africa, and certify French birth certificates, degrees, driver licences and police records for Home Affairs, state road authorities and universities.
French translation for individuals, business and government
Personal documents
NAATI certified French translation of certificates, licences and transcripts.
From $69.90 + GST per document
Express within 48 business hours
Order online →Business and enterprise
Websites, marketing and transcreation in French.
ISO 27001 certified, with an API
Request a quote →Government and health
Community review of French materials before release.
NAATI Endorsed LSP950085, 50+ departments
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French is a Romance language spoken by approximately 321 million people across five continents, making it one of the most geographically dispersed languages in the world. It is an official language in 29 countries, one of the six official languages of the United Nations, and the primary or co-official language of significant international institutions including the European Union, the International Olympic Committee, and the International Red Cross.
In Australia, French speakers number 62,000 according to the 2021 Census. The French-speaking community in Australia is notably diverse, drawing from France, New Caledonia, French Polynesia, various African nations, Canada, Belgium, Switzerland, and former French colonies across Southeast Asia and the Middle East. This diversity means the French-speaking Australian community spans a wide range of cultural backgrounds, migration experiences, and varieties of French.
French is written in the Latin alphabet with diacritical marks (accents) that affect pronunciation and meaning. The language is known for its complex spelling system, where the relationship between written and spoken forms is less transparent than in languages like Spanish or Italian. French grammar features gendered nouns, extensive verb conjugation across multiple tenses and moods, and formal and informal registers marked by the tu/vous distinction.
The global reach of French gives it particular relevance for Australian organisations beyond community language services. France, New Caledonia, and French Polynesia are significant for Australia's trade, diplomatic, and Pacific regional interests. French is also one of the most commonly studied languages in Australian schools and universities, creating a broader pool of French language awareness.
New Caledonia's proximity to Australia (closer than New Zealand) and its evolving political relationship with France make French an important Pacific language for Australia. The Pacific French-speaking community — from New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Vanuatu (where French is co-official), and Wallis and Futuna — represents a distinct and geographically relevant audience for Australian communications.
For organisations, French serves multiple functions in Australia: community language provision for French-speaking Australians, international business and diplomatic communication, Pacific regional engagement, and educational and cultural exchange. The language's global prestige and institutional significance make professional French translation a worthwhile investment across many sectors.
What makes French translation different?
European vs African vs Pacific French
French varies significantly across regions. European French (France, Belgium, Switzerland) uses different vocabulary and cultural references than African French or Pacific French. For Australian community communications, the target audience's origin should guide vocabulary and cultural adaptation. Pacific French (New Caledonia, French Polynesia) may be particularly relevant for Australia's regional engagement.
Tu vs Vous
The formal (vous) and informal (tu) distinction is fundamental in French and carries more social weight than similar distinctions in other languages. Government and professional communications should use vous consistently. Marketing and community engagement may adopt tu for a warmer, more personal tone, but this should be a deliberate strategic choice rather than a default.
Gendered Language and Inclusive Writing
French has two grammatical genders and traditionally uses the masculine as the default plural. Inclusive writing practices (such as écriture inclusive using mid-dots or gender-neutral forms) are actively debated in France and Francophone countries. The Académie française opposes these forms, but they are gaining traction in some contexts. Organisations should decide their approach based on audience expectations and institutional norms.
Text Expansion
French text typically runs 15-20% longer than equivalent English content. French uses more articles, prepositions, and longer word forms than English. This expansion must be accommodated in layout designs, and is particularly noticeable in headings and navigation elements where space is constrained.
Spelling and Accents
French diacritical marks (accent aigu, accent grave, accent circonflexe, tréma, cédille) are not optional — they affect meaning and their omission is a conspicuous error. All systems handling French text must support these characters correctly. Quebec French uses slightly different accent conventions than European French in some cases.
NAATI Certification
NAATI certified French translators are available in Australia, though the pool is moderate in size. Practitioners with specific expertise in African French or Pacific French may require targeted recruitment for specialised projects.
Frequently asked questions about French translation
Is a NAATI certified French translation accepted by Home Affairs?
Yes. Home Affairs, state road authorities, universities and AHPRA accept NAATI certified translations of French documents from any country. Actes de naissance, actes de mariage, diplômes, relevés de notes, permis de conduire and extraits de casier judiciaire are the most common.
Can you translate Australian documents into French for use in France or Belgium?
Yes. Birth, marriage and death certificates, police checks and academic records are translated into French and certified for lodgement with French, Belgian and Swiss authorities and their consulates in Australia.
Where does Australia's French-speaking community come from?
It's spread across France, New Caledonia, Mauritius, Canada, Belgium, Switzerland, Lebanon and francophone Africa, including Democratic Republic of the Congo, Côte d'Ivoire and Burundi. That diversity matters: a settlement resource for Congolese arrivals reads differently from a business document for a French firm, and we brief translators accordingly.
How much does French translation cost?
NAATI certified translation of personal documents starts from $69.90 + GST per document. Business, legal and marketing content is quoted on word count, subject matter and turnaround. Upload your file for a free quote.
Do you translate business and government content between French and English?
Yes. French is the working language for much of Australia's engagement with the Pacific, including New Caledonia, French Polynesia and Vanuatu, so we translate government, defence, trade and education material in both directions, as well as tourism content for francophone visitors.