GOOGLETRANSLATE translates text in a cell (or a typed string) from one language to another using Google Translate. It is available in Google Sheets only. Specify source and target language codes for more reliable results, or let Sheets auto-detect the source.

Syntax

=GOOGLETRANSLATE(text, [source_language, target_language])

• text: the string or cell to translate.

• source_language (optional): language code such as en or es. Defaults to auto when both optional args are omitted.

• target_language (optional): language code for the output.

Important: provide both optional language arguments, or neither. Filling only one returns #VALUE!.

How to use GOOGLETRANSLATE

1. Click a cell and type =GOOGLETRANSLATE(.

2. Pass the text (quoted) or a cell reference.

3. Optionally add source and target codes.

4. Close the parenthesis and press Enter.

Examples:

• =GOOGLETRANSLATE("Hello", "en", "es") → Hola

• =GOOGLETRANSLATE(A2, "fr", "en") translates the text in A2 from French to English

• =GOOGLETRANSLATE(A2) auto-detects the source and translates toward your default language (accuracy varies)

• =GOOGLETRANSLATE(A2, "auto", "en") auto-detects source and forces English output

Machine translation is a helper, not a substitute for a native review on board materials or statutory labels.

Language codes and detection

Use standard codes (en, es, fr, de, pt, and others). Not every language is supported. To detect a language without translating, use DETECTLANGUAGE in Sheets.

Why finance teams use LiveFlow

Translation helps multilingual account names or vendor notes. It does not keep actuals current. LiveFlow FP&A syncs QuickBooks Online (and other books) into Google Sheets so the numbers next to those labels refresh without another export cycle.

CTA: Book a demo of LiveFlow FP&A for Google Sheets.