Word includes a Translator tool that can translate either the whole document or a selected passage without copying the text into a separate website. It uses an online translation service, so an internet connection is required.
Does this affect you?
Use this for Word for Microsoft 365, Word 2021, Word 2019, and Word for the web on Windows or Mac when you need a rough translated copy or a quick translation of selected text.
Translate the whole document
This creates a new translated file and leaves the original unchanged.
- Open the document.
- Go to the Review tab.
- Click Translate.
- Choose Translate Document.
- Select the target language.
- Click Translate.
- Review the new translated document before using or sending it.
Machine translation can miss context, idioms, technical wording, and ambiguous phrasing. Important documents should be reviewed by someone fluent in the target language.
Translate only selected text
Use this for a paragraph, sentence, quote, or section.
- Highlight the text to translate.
- Open Review > Translate > Translate Selection.
- Use the Translator pane to choose the source or target language if needed.
- Click Insert to replace the selected text, or Copy to place the translation elsewhere.
More control
Set your default language
Open Review > Translate > Translation Language Options and set the language you usually translate to. Word uses that preference next time.
Keep the original nearby
For important work, save the translated document as a separate file and keep the original version available for comparison.
Know the privacy and connection requirement
Word sends the text to Microsoft online translation services for processing. Translation will not work while offline, and sensitive files should follow your organization data policy.
Sources
- Microsoft Support – Translate text into a different language (2025)
- Microsoft Support – Translate a document (2025)
- Microsoft Support – Set your translation language preferences (2025)