Italian translation services
ItalianoLEXIGO provides NAATI certified Italian translation across Australia, for the 218,252 people who speak Italian at home and the organisations serving them. We translate Italian to English and English to Italian for government, aged care, legal and business clients, and certify Italian comune certificates, degrees and driver licences for Home Affairs, state road authorities and Italian consulates.
Italian translation for individuals, business and government
Personal documents
NAATI certified Italian 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 Italian.
ISO 27001 certified, with an API
Request a quote →Government and health
Community review of Italian materials before release.
NAATI Endorsed LSP950085, 50+ departments
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Italian is a Romance language descended from Latin, spoken by approximately 85 million people worldwide as a first language and many more as a second language. It is the official language of Italy, Switzerland (Ticino and parts of Graubünden), San Marino, and Vatican City, and holds official or co-official status in parts of Slovenia and Croatia.
In Australia, Italian has a uniquely significant place in the multicultural story. The 2021 Census recorded 218,252 people speaking Italian at home, making it the seventh most commonly spoken language other than English. Italian migration to Australia came in two major waves: a smaller movement in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, followed by mass migration in the 1950s and 1960s when hundreds of thousands of Italians settled primarily in Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, and Perth.
The Italian-Australian community is among the most established in the country, with third and fourth-generation Italians now forming a significant part of Australian society. Italian surnames are ubiquitous in Australian business, politics, arts, and sport. This deep integration means Italian-language services serve a particular demographic — primarily first-generation migrants now in their seventies and eighties, along with newer arrivals and those maintaining strong cultural and business ties with Italy.
Italian is written in the Latin alphabet and is largely phonetic, with relatively consistent spelling-to-pronunciation rules compared to English. The language features grammatical gender (masculine and feminine), verb conjugation across multiple tenses and moods, and formal and informal registers that carry social significance.
Regional dialects remain important in Italian culture, and many Italian Australians speak regional varieties (Sicilian, Calabrese, Venetian, Neapolitan) alongside or instead of standard Italian. These dialects can differ substantially from standard Italian and from each other — Sicilian, for example, is sometimes classified as a separate language. Understanding which variety is appropriate for a given audience is important for effective communication.
For organisations, Italian translation in Australia serves critical functions in aged care, health services, legal communications, and cultural engagement. The ageing profile of first-generation Italian migrants makes clear, accessible Italian-language health and aged care communications particularly important. Italian also remains relevant for trade, tourism, and cultural exchange given the strong ongoing relationship between Australia and Italy.
What makes Italian translation different?
Standard Italian vs Regional Dialects
Most formal translation should use standard Italian (italiano standard), based on the Florentine dialect. However, awareness of regional variation is important for community engagement. Some older Italian Australians may be more comfortable with their regional dialect than standard Italian, particularly those from southern Italy and Sicily. For community health and aged care communications, understanding the audience's regional background improves effectiveness.
Gendered Language
Italian has two grammatical genders affecting nouns, adjectives, articles, and past participles. Gender agreement must be consistent throughout translated text. For audiences of mixed or unknown gender, Italian conventions for inclusive language are evolving but less established than in English. Professional translators should handle this with cultural sensitivity.
Formal and Informal Address
Italian distinguishes formal (Lei) and informal (tu) address. Government and professional communications should use Lei consistently. Community and marketing communications may use tu for warmth, but this should be a deliberate choice. Mixing registers within a single document is a conspicuous error.
Text Expansion
Italian text typically runs 15-25% longer than equivalent English content. Italian uses more articles, prepositions, and longer word forms. This expansion is particularly noticeable in headings and short-form content where space is constrained.
Community Demographics
The Italian-Australian community spans multiple generations with varying language proficiency. First-generation migrants (now elderly) may have limited formal education and prefer simple, accessible language. Second and third-generation speakers often have conversational Italian but prefer English for complex topics. Content complexity should match the target audience segment.
NAATI Certification
NAATI certified Italian translators are available in Australia, though the pool is ageing alongside the community. Translators with specialisation in medical and aged care contexts are particularly valuable given the community's demographic profile.
Frequently asked questions about Italian translation
Is a NAATI certified Italian translation accepted by Home Affairs and Italian consulates?
Yes. Home Affairs, state road authorities, universities and AHPRA accept NAATI certified translations of Italian documents. Italian consulates in Australia also accept NAATI certified translations of Australian documents for citizenship and civil status applications.
Can you translate Australian documents into Italian for citizenship by descent?
Yes. Birth, marriage and death certificates, police checks and name change documents are translated into Italian and certified for lodgement with the consulate or an Italian comune. We follow the layout conventions Italian officials expect.
Where are Australia's Italian-speaking communities?
Melbourne has the largest, around Brunswick, Coburg and Reservoir, followed by Sydney's Leichhardt and Five Dock, Adelaide's western suburbs, and Perth. Most first-generation speakers arrived in the 1950s and 1960s, so the community's median age is high.
How much does Italian 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 for aged care providers serving Italian speakers?
Yes. Many older Italian Australians return to their first language as they age, particularly with dementia, so care plans, resident communications and consent forms in Italian are a regular request from aged care providers in Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide.