• 5-minute read
• 29th July 2023

Referencing Translated Sources (APA, MLA, and Chicago) [Updated 2023]

If you’re citing a translated source in your research paper or essay, it’s important to credit both the author and the translator. In this guide, we’ll show you how to reference translated sources in APA, MLA, and Chicago styles, both in the text and on the reference page.

Citing a Translated Source in APA Style

If you’re citing a translated source in APA in a reference list, include the following basic information:

●  Author’s name

●  Title of the original work (italicized): If the original title is in a language other than English, you can include the translated title in square brackets after the original title.

●  Translator’s first Initial and last name

●  Publisher of the translation

●  Year of the translated publication

●  Year of original publication

●  Additional information based on the specific source type (e.g., container volume, volume number, issue number, page range)

Here’s the basic format followed by an example of what a translated book citation might look like in a reference list:

Author’s Last Name, First Initial. (Year of translation). Title of the original work (Translator’s First Initial. Translator’s Last Name, Trans.). Publisher. (Year of the original publication)

Quinn, G. (2001). The rural city landscape explored (C. Chase, Trans.). Wiley. (Original work published 1998)

To cite a translated work in the text, include the author’s name, the year of the original publication and the year of the translation separated by a slash, with the earlier year appearing first. For parenthetical citations, list the author’s name and the publication years in parentheses at the end of the relevant information. For narrative citations, list the publication years in parentheses immediately following the author’s name. For example:

Citing a Translated Source in MLA Format

To cite a translated source in MLA format, include the following basic information:

●  Author’s name

●  Title of the original work (italicized): If the original title is in a language other than English, you can include the translated title in square brackets after the original title.

●  Translator’s full name

●  Publisher of the translator

●  Year of the original publication

●  Year of the translated publication

●  Additional information based on the specific source type (e.g., container volume, volume number, issue number, page range)

Here’s the basic format followed by an example of what a translated book citation might look like on a works cited page:

Author’s Last Name, First Name. Title of the Original Work. Translated by Translator’s Full Name, Publisher, Year of Publication.

Wesley, John. The Impact of Climate Change on Biodiversity. Translated by Jessica Klein, Forest Hills Publishing House, 2023.

When you cite a translated source in the text, you should include the author’s last name and the page number (if available) for the translated version. For parenthetical citations, list the author’s last name and the page number in parentheses after the relevant information. For narrative citations that include the author’s name, list the page number in parentheses at the end of the relevant information. For example:

How to Cite a Translated Source in Chicago Style

When citing a translated source in Chicago style, the specific format depends on whether you are using the notes and bibliography (footnote) style or the author–date (parenthetical) style.

Here’s how to cite a translated source in each style:

Author–Date (Parenthetical) Style:

For author–date style, you only name the translator in the reference list citations. For in-text citations, just use the author’s name. Below is the basic format for a reference list entry and an example of a translated book:

Author(s) of the original work. Year. Title of the Work. Translated by Translator’s Name. Place of Publication: Publisher.

Smith, Angela. 2001. A Critical Review of Early Literature. Translated by Joe Crane. New York: Oceanfront Publication.

For in-text citations, include the author’s name, the year of the translated publication, and the page number, if applicable, in parentheses:

Notes and Bibliography System

To cite a translated source in the footnotes and bibliography system, include the translator’s name in the bibliography entry and the first footnote. Subsequent citations are a shortened version of the footnote (the author, title of the work, and page number) that don’t include the translator’s name.

For example:

In the footnote:

Author’s First Name Last Name, Title of the Original Work, trans. Translator’s First Name Last Name (Place of Publication: Publisher, Year of Translation), Page Number.

Angela Smith, A Critical Review of Early Literature, trans. Joe Crane (New York: Oceanfront Publication, 2001), 5–15

In the bibliography:

Author’s Last Name, First Name. Title of the Original Work. Translated by Translator’s First Name Last Name. Place of Publication: Publisher, Year of Translation.

Smith, Angela. A Critical Review of Early Literature. Translated by Joe Crane. New York: Oceanfront Publication, 2001.

Remember, in the Notes and Bibliography style, the footnote numbers should be sequential and appear at the end of the relevant sentence or phrase. The corresponding bibliography entry should list all the sources cited in the paper.

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