Many standard varieties
British and American English differ in areas including spelling, terminology and document formats.
West Germanic language
Request an English translation
English
English is a global lingua franca and language of business, but documents from the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, India and Australia reflect different legal and educational systems.
Around 380 million people speak English as a first language; including second- and foreign-language speakers, worldwide use is well above one billion.
Geographical distribution of English
- Main areas of use
- Other regional use
- Selected diaspora communities
United Kingdom
United States
Canada
Australia
Ireland
New Zealand
India
South Africa
Singapore
Germany
A schematic selection of the main areas where the language is used. Language use does not always follow national borders, and the map does not show complete population statistics.
Language profile
English at a glance
- Native name
- English
- Language family
- West Germanic language
- Script
- Latin alphabet
- Language code
- en
Documents and areas of use
Common uses for this language combination
It is not just about the language. ABBA-Sprachendienste also takes into account the document type, recipient, subject area, certification requirements and the language combination you need.
Have your document checked- Employment and business contracts
- Diplomas, certificates and transcripts
- Certificates and technical documentation
- Medical documents
- Company and court documents
Origin and development
How the language developed
English belongs to the West Germanic branch. Its Old English foundations were influenced by contact with Old Norse and, after 1066, strongly by Norman French.
Trade, colonial history, science and digital communication gave rise to numerous national standards. Specialist translation therefore needs to consider not only “English”, but also the relevant country and industry context.
Good to know
What makes this language distinctive
False friends
Familiar-sounding words may have a different technical meaning in legal, medical or business contexts.
Account for the national system in the translation
Qualifications, public authorities and legal forms often require a clear explanation rather than a purely literal translation.
A glimpse of the language
Three phrases to start with
The transliteration is only a rough guide. Pronunciation and regional forms may differ.
| Original | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | — | Hello |
| Thank you | — | Thank you |
| Please | — | Please |
Sources and classification
Further information
Speaker numbers are rounded guide figures and may vary depending on the definition, the year of the survey and whether second-language speakers are included.
- English language
Wikipedia · language-specific overview
- Codes for the Representation of Names of Languages
Library of Congress / ISO 639-2 Registration Authority · Language codes and standardised language names
- Language and Locale Names
Unicode Common Locale Data Repository · Language, script and territory names and variants
- Glottolog 5.3
Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology · Language families, classification and linguistic literature
Editorial sources as of 14 July 2026. The information will be cross-checked by subject experts before the website goes live.
Other related service languages
English FAQ
Frequently asked questions about English
Can I have documents translated from English into German and from German into English?
You can request either direction. We give a binding commitment once we have checked the document type, subject area, certification, appointment and intended use.
Which documents are commonly relevant for English?
Employment and business contracts; diplomas, educational records and transcripts; certificates and technical documentation; and medical records are common examples. Other types of documents can also be assessed from a clear photo or PDF.
What does ABBA-Sprachendienste check in English documents?
We check the language combination, document type, script (Latin alphabet), names, stamps, subject area, intended use and whether certification may be needed.
Do I need a certified translation of my English document?
That is decided by the authority, court or notary receiving the document, or by whichever other office has requested it. Tell ABBA-Sprachendienste where the document will be submitted, so that your requirements can be assessed properly.
Is a photo enough for the initial check?
Yes. A complete, sharp and clearly legible photo or PDF is usually enough for us to check your request and prepare a quote. Depending on the job, the original may also be needed later, when the work is carried out.
Request a specific review of English ↔ German
Send a clear photo or PDF. ABBA-Sprachendienste will personally check the language combination, document, intended use and whether certification is needed.
