Website Translation for EMEA Markets
What are the advantages and challenges of website translation for the European, Middle Eastern, and African markets?
 8 Min. Read |
 Dominic Dithurbide |
 September 20, 2023 |
| 8 Min. Read |
Dominic Dithurbide |
September 20, 2023 |
Website translation, especially for EMEA countries, is an essential component for businesses aiming for international growth and visibility.
EMEA stands for “Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.” This acronym is commonly used as a shorthand designation to refer to these three regions collectively. The EMEA market includes more than 110 countries across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. To successfully expand your business into EMEA markets, translating your website content into your customers’ preferred language is important.
The EMEA is home to a vast number of languages. It’s impossible to list them all, but here is a comprehensive way to categorize the different regions:
European Languages: The continent of Europe alone hosts many languages, both official and regional. These include major languages such as English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese. There are also numerous regional and minority languages throughout Europe like Basque, Catalan, and Welsh, among many others.
Middle Eastern Languages: This area includes languages like Arabic, Persian (Farsi), Turkish, Hebrew, and Kurdish.
African Languages: Africa is linguistically diverse, with over 2000 distinct languages. Major languages include Swahili, Amharic, Hausa, Yoruba, Zulu, and Arabic in North Africa.
The EMEA region is truly a melting pot of linguistic diversity. Given the vast number of countries and cultures, it is essential to appreciate the linguistic variety when considering business, political, or social initiatives in the EMEA.
Europe represents one of the most lucrative markets in the world. Translating the website can open doors to various business opportunities and collaborations. Not including the UK, the European Union is the third largest e-commerce market in the world, with online retail sales totaling $498 billion annually.
If you’re a U.S. based brand looking to access a lot of the European market, your business may not need to engage in website translation. In the case of many European countries like England, Ireland, and Wales, English is the first and often only language spoken. However, to connect with these countries you should consider website localization, as customs, culture, and lingo will be unique.
Online retail in Africa is around $20 billion annually, which is only 3.5% of total retail sales. This is not very high, but Africa’s population is about 1.35 billion, on par with China. This means there is potential for greater buying power.
Africa is home to a vast array of languages and cultures. By facilitating communication in multiple languages through website translation and localization, businesses can reach more interested buyers and drive economic growth.
The most exciting thing about the e-commerce sector in the Middle East is its potential for substantial growth. It is estimated to reach a market value of $50 billion by 2025. The area is seeing a substantial increase in the use of cutting-edge technologies as well as government initiatives to promote digital economies.
The EMEA encompasses a lot of different cultures and languages. While many of the countries included speak English, that does not necessarily make the process easier when trying to break into new markets.
There are some specific challenges when trying to appeal to buyers in these countries:
EMEA covers Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The region has a plethora of languages, requiring a comprehensive translation strategy. Think about the differences between Spanish and Hebrew.
Spanish is a Romance language originating from the Iberian Peninsula and belongs to the Indo-European language family. Hebrew is a Semitic language originating from the Levant region and is part of the Afroasiatic language family. Also, Spanish uses the Latin alphabet, while Hebrew uses its unique right-to-left script.
Many languages have regional dialects, the same way the U.S. has accents: Brooklyn, Southern, Midwestern. Different dialects span different countries, and all include slang that may mean something to one person and not another.
For instance, Arabic serves as an official language in over 25 nations. Throughout the Middle East and Africa, there are more than 30 distinct dialects of Arabic. Translating text between languages while preserving its original meaning and flair is always a challenge. Specifically, Arabic is among the most challenging languages to translate accurately.
Mere translation isn’t enough; localization is essential. It ensures that the content resonates with the cultural norms and values of each country. Wherever your target market is, you want to connect with those buyers to ensure the most personalized shopping experience
Aside from a potential increase in brand reach and revenue, there are some unique benefits to translating and localizing your website with EMEA countries in mind:
Enhanced User Experience: Translated content offers a personalized user experience, leading to increased engagement and conversion rates.
SEO Benefits: Multiple language versions of a website can improve its search engine rankings in respective regions.
Build Trust: Native-language content helps in building trust with local audiences, further cementing brand loyalty.
For companies aiming at a broad reach in the EMEA region, website translation and localization isn’t just beneficial—it’s essential. But chances are you won’t be able to tackle a website translation and localization project internally.
With the knowledge needed to connect with non-English speaking audiences, you need to work with a language services partner with the best technology and expert linguists. MotionPoint is the best website translation solution on the market. Drop us a line today and get the right solution to help your business serve the EMEA market.
