How to Translate Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides with Pairaphrase

You can choose from the translation engines and languages available through Pairaphrase, translate selected content or an entire file, and use Translation Memory and glossaries to support more consistent multilingual content.

The setup and terminology tools available in the Pairaphrase Translator depend on how you connect: with an existing Pairaphrase account or with an API key.

What can you do with the Pairaphrase Google Workspace integration?

The integration allows you to:

Translate content directly in Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides
Choose a Pairaphrase-supported translation engine and language pair
Detect the source language automatically
Translate selected content while keeping supported formatting
Translate an entire document
Use a full-document translation workflow
Review previous translations in History
Use Translation Memory to find and reuse approved translations
Use glossaries to maintain preferred terminology
Upload TMX files for Translation Memory
Upload CSV glossary files or add glossary terms manually
Adjust text direction and layout for right-to-left languages
Reduce font size when translated text does not fit in Google Slides

How to get access to the Pairaphrase Google Workspace integration

Once Pairaphrase is available in the Google Workspace Marketplace, you can install it from Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides:

Open a Google Doc, Sheet, or Slides file.
Select Extensions → Add-ons → Get add-ons.
Search for Pairaphrase Translator in the Google Workspace Marketplace.
Open the Pairaphrase listing and select Install.
Review and approve the requested permissions.

After installation, launch Pairaphrase Translator from Extensions → Add-ons. The translator opens as a side panel where you can connect Pairaphrase and begin translating.

Choose how to connect

There are two ways to use the Pairaphrase Google Workspace integration. Choose the setup that matches your Pairaphrase access.

Connect an existing Pairaphrase account

Use this option if you already have access to a Pairaphrase account.

Translations use the allowance associated with your existing Pairaphrase plan.

Your Google Workspace translations use the Translation Memories and glossaries assigned to you through your Pairaphrase Groups. These resources are managed in Pairaphrase rather than directly inside the Google Workspace integration.

Connect with an API key

You can also connect the Pairaphrase Translator using a Pairaphrase API key.

Enter the API key in the Pairaphrase API key field under Settings, then select Save & Validate.

When you connect with an API key, Translation Memory and glossary tools are available directly inside the Pairaphrase Translator.

How to open the Pairaphrase Translator

Open the Google Doc, Sheet, or Slides file you want to translate and launch the Pairaphrase Translator.

The side panel includes the following sections:

Settings
Translate
History
Full document
Translation Memory (when connected via API key)
Glossary (when connected via API key)

Open or collapse each section as needed while working with your file.

Translate content in Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides

After connecting your Pairaphrase account or API key:

Open Translate.
Choose a Translation engine.
Choose the source language under From, or select Detect language.
Choose the target language under To.
Translate selected content or translate the entire document.

You can also select Swap languages to reverse the source and target languages.

Translate selected content

Use Translate selection (keep formatting) when only part of the current file needs to be translated.

Select the content you want to translate in your Google Doc, Sheet, or Slides file.
Open Translate in the Pairaphrase Translator.
Select the translation engine and languages.
Select Translate selection (keep formatting).

Pairaphrase translates the selected content while retaining supported formatting.

This workflow is useful when you only need to translate a paragraph, selected spreadsheet content, presentation text, or another specific part of the file.

Translate an entire document

Use Translate entire document when you want Pairaphrase to translate the supported content across the current file.

Open Translate.
Choose the translation engine.
Select the source and target languages.
Select Translate entire document.

After translation, review the file for translation accuracy, formatting, spacing, and layout.

This is particularly important when translated text is longer or shorter than the original content.

Configure how translated content appears

Open Settings to configure options that affect translated content.

Mirror text direction and layout for right-to-left languages

Enable Mirror text direction and layout for right-to-left languages when translating content between left-to-right and right-to-left languages.

This helps adjust the text direction and layout to better match the reading direction of languages such as Arabic.

Review the translated file afterward to confirm that text placement, spacing, and overall layout are appropriate.

Shrink font size so translations fit in Google Slides

When working in Google Slides, enable Shrink font size so translations fit (Slides) if translated text may be too long for the available space.

This can help reduce text overflow when the translated content is longer than the source text.

Always review the presentation after translation to make sure the text remains readable and visually balanced.

Use the Full document workflow

Open Full document when you need the integration's broader file-level translation workflow rather than translating only selected content.

Choose the appropriate source and target languages and follow the options shown in the Pairaphrase Translator.

This workflow is intended for larger translation projects where most or all of the file needs to be translated.

Review translations in History

Open History to review translations. History provides access to previously translated content during your translation workflow and can help you review or reuse translation results where available.

Available actions can depend on how you connect to Pairaphrase.

How to use Translation Memory

Translation Memory helps you find and reuse translations that have already been reviewed or approved.

How Translation Memory works in Google Workspace depends on your connection method.

Existing Pairaphrase users: The integration uses the Translation Memories assigned to you through your Pairaphrase Groups. These resources are managed in Pairaphrase.

API-key users: Translation Memory tools are available directly in the Translation Memory section of the Pairaphrase Translator.

API-key users can:

Select a source and target language
Upload a TMX file
Select an existing Translation Memory
Search for previously translated segments
Reuse matching translations

Translation Memory is particularly useful for recurring content such as standard instructions, policies, product messaging, educational materials, and other frequently repeated text.

How to use glossaries

Glossaries help maintain preferred translations for important terminology.

As with Translation Memory, glossary access depends on how you connect.

Existing Pairaphrase users: The integration uses glossaries assigned through your Pairaphrase Groups. These resources are managed in Pairaphrase.

API-key users: Glossary controls are available directly in the Glossary section of the Pairaphrase Translator.

API-key users can:

Select a source and target language
Upload a glossary as a CSV file
Add source and target terms manually
Search an existing glossary
Select Use to reuse a matching glossary entry

Glossaries can help organizations maintain consistent terminology for products, departments, programs, policies, services, and other recurring language.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Pairaphrase Google Workspace integration?

The Pairaphrase Google Workspace integration lets you use Pairaphrase translation workflows directly while working in Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Google Slides.

Which Google Workspace apps does the integration support?

The integration supports Google Docs, Google Sheets, and Google Slides.

Do I need a Pairaphrase account to use the integration?

You can connect using an existing Pairaphrase account or a Pairaphrase API key.

Does Google Workspace translation use my Pairaphrase plan allowance?

Yes. When you connect using an existing Pairaphrase account, translated words are deducted from the allowance associated with that account.

Can I translate only part of a Google Doc, Sheet, or Slides file?

Yes. Select the content you want to translate and then choose Translate selection (keep formatting).

Can I translate an entire document?

Yes. Select Translate entire document to translate the supported content across the current file.

Can Pairaphrase detect the source language?

Yes. Select Detect language under From if you want Pairaphrase to detect the source language.

Can I choose the translation engine?

Yes. Use the Translation engine menu in the Translate section to choose from the supported engines available through Pairaphrase.

Does Pairaphrase keep the formatting of selected content?

The selected-content workflow uses Translate selection (keep formatting) to retain supported formatting during translation.

Because translated text can differ in length from the original, always review the final file for spacing, text fit, and layout.

Can I use Translation Memory in Google Workspace?

Yes. How Translation Memory works depends on how you connect:

Existing Pairaphrase users: The integration uses Translation Memories assigned through Pairaphrase Groups.

API-key users: Translation Memory controls are available directly inside the Pairaphrase Translator, including TMX upload and segment search.

Can I use glossaries?

Yes. Existing Pairaphrase users use glossaries assigned through Pairaphrase Groups. API-key users can upload CSV glossary files, add terms manually, search available glossaries, and reuse matching entries from the Glossary section.

Can I translate into a right-to-left language?

Yes. Enable Mirror text direction and layout for right-to-left languages in Settings to help adjust content for right-to-left reading.

Can Pairaphrase help translated text fit in Google Slides?

Yes. Enable Shrink font size so translations fit (Slides) in Settings.

Should I review the file after translating it?

Yes. Translation can change the length and arrangement of text. Review translated documents, spreadsheets, and presentations for accuracy, readability, formatting, spacing, and layout before sharing or publishing them.