How to Cite a Translated Book: 3 Clear APA, MLA, and Chicago Examples
Direct answer: To understand how to cite a translated book, identify the original author, the translated edition you actually read, and the translator. APA includes both publication years for a republished translation; MLA usually names the translator after the title; and Chicago names the translator in its note and bibliography entry. Follow the citation style required for your assignment.
A translated book citation should let readers identify the specific edition you used. That matters because translations may differ in wording, pagination, publication date, and translator. The right format also depends on whether your paper discusses the book itself or focuses on the translator’s choices.
Check the title page and copyright page of the edition you read before creating its citation.
Start with the edition you actually read
Before formatting a translated book citation, check the title page and copyright page of your copy. Record the author’s name as it appears, the book title, the translator, the publisher, and the publication year of that edition. If the book is digital, note whether it has stable page numbers and whether the publisher provides a DOI or a public URL.
Do not substitute details from a different translation or an edition you have not consulted. A familiar title may have several translations, each with its own translator and pagination. Use the pages in your own copy when quoting or referring to a specific passage.
There is also an important distinction between a translated edition and a work that remains published in its original language. For a translated edition, the translator is a named contributor to the version you read. For a work in another language that you read in that language, you generally cite that edition’s title and publication details; APA guidance also calls for a bracketed translation of the title when appropriate. Consult the relevant style guide for the source type and your assignment’s requirements.
How to cite a translated book in APA
In APA style, put the translation’s publication year in the reference entry and include the translator after the book title. If the original publication year is known, add it at the end of the reference as an “Original work published” note. In an in-text citation for a translated work, give the original year first and the translation year second, separated by a slash.
APA reference pattern:
Author, A. A. (Year of translation). Title of book (A. A. Translator, Trans.). Publisher. (Original work published Year)
APA example:
Tolstoy, L. (2014). Anna Karenina (R. Bartlett, Trans.). Oxford University Press. (Original work published 1878)
APA paraphrase: (Tolstoy, 1878/2014)
APA direct quotation: (Tolstoy, 1878/2014, p. 245)
Use the page number from the translation you read. If the edition has no stable pages, follow APA guidance for locating quotations in works without page numbers and provide an appropriate locator, such as a chapter or section when available. Don’t add an original year simply because a book is old: verify it from a reliable source or the book’s publication information.
The example’s translation details are based on Oxford University Press’s edition information; the original publication year should still be checked against a reliable bibliographic source when preparing your own reference. The APA Style reference examples explain that writers should select the example matching the source type, while the University of Lethbridge APA guide summarizes translated-book elements and dates.
How to cite a translated book in MLA
In MLA, if your discussion is about the original author’s work, list the author first and add the translator after the title. Include the publisher and publication year for the edition you consulted. A standard in-text citation uses the author’s surname and the page number in that edition.
MLA Works Cited pattern:
Author’s Last Name, First Name. Title of Book. Translated by Translator’s Name, Publisher, Year.
MLA example:
Tolstoy, Leo. Anna Karenina. Translated by Rosamund Bartlett, Oxford University Press, 2014.
MLA in-text citation: (Tolstoy 245)
If your paper’s main subject is the translation itself—for example, you compare how two translators render the same passage—MLA permits you to put the translator in the first position, labeled “translator,” and identify the original author after the title. This changes the Works Cited entry’s emphasis; it does not mean the translator replaces the author in every ordinary citation. See the Purdue OWL guidance on translated books and the MLA Style Center book examples for the applicable pattern.
How to cite a translated book in Chicago
Chicago offers two common systems: Notes and Bibliography, often used in humanities, and Author-Date, often used in sciences and social sciences. Both identify the translator. Use the system your instructor, department, or publisher requires, and keep it consistent throughout your work.
Chicago Notes and Bibliography
First note pattern: Author First Name Last Name, Title of Book, trans. Translator Name (Publisher, Year), page.
Example note: Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina, trans. Rosamund Bartlett (Oxford University Press, 2014), 245.
Bibliography pattern: Author Last Name, First Name. Title of Book. Translated by Translator Name. Publisher, Year.
Example bibliography entry: Tolstoy, Leo. Anna Karenina. Translated by Rosamund Bartlett. Oxford University Press, 2014.
After the first full note, Chicago generally uses a shortened note for later references. A shortened note might read: Tolstoy, Anna Karenina, 245. Follow the version of Chicago required for your work, especially if your source is an ebook or has unusual publication details. The Chicago Manual of Style Notes and Bibliography guide provides an official translated-book example.
Chicago Author-Date
In Author-Date, the in-text citation typically gives the author, the edition’s publication year, and the page number: (Tolstoy 2014, 245). In the reference list, name the translator after the title, along with the publication information. The Chicago/Turabian Author-Date guide includes a translated-book reference example. If you are citing a historical work and need to signal its original date, check the applicable Chicago guidance and your instructor’s preferences rather than carrying APA’s date format into Chicago.
APA, MLA, and Chicago: what changes?
| Style | Where the translator appears | In-text or note example | Publication dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| APA | After the title, with “Trans.” | (Tolstoy, 1878/2014, p. 245) | Translation year in reference; original year noted when known; both in-text for translated works |
| MLA | After the title as “Translated by” when emphasizing the work | (Tolstoy 245) | Normally give the edition’s publication year in Works Cited |
| Chicago Notes and Bibliography | In the note and bibliography, labeled “trans.” or “Translated by” | Full note includes page; later notes may be shortened | Give the cited edition’s publication details; follow Chicago guidance for original dates when relevant |
| Chicago Author-Date | After the title in the reference-list entry | (Tolstoy 2014, 245) | Use the edition year in the author-date citation |
The central difference is not whether to credit the translator—all three styles do—but where the translator is shown and how dates appear. When discussing translation choices, make the translator’s role clear in your prose as well as in the citation. For instance: “Bartlett’s translation renders the passage…” That helps readers distinguish a claim about Tolstoy’s work from a claim about a translator’s wording.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Citing the wrong translation: Match the translator, publisher, year, and page number to the exact copy you used.
- Leaving out the translator: Include the translator where the selected style requires it, even if you identify the original author first.
- Mixing styles: Don’t combine APA’s paired dates with MLA’s author-page citation or Chicago’s note format.
- Guessing the original publication year: Verify it; if it is unknown or uncertain, follow the style guide’s treatment rather than inventing a date.
- Using page numbers from another edition: Translations and editions can paginate differently. Cite the location in the version you consulted.
- Overlooking a specific source format: An ebook, chapter in an edited collection, or work with multiple translators may require extra elements. Start with the book’s actual structure, then consult a matching style example.
If you are citing a chapter in an edited book, see our guide on how to cite a book chapter. For a source without a named author, use the guidance on how to cite a source with no author.
Final checklist for a translated book citation
- Confirm the required citation style and system.
- Use the author, title, translator, publisher, and year from the edition you read.
- Check whether the assignment discusses the original work or the translation itself.
- Add the correct in-text citation, footnote, or endnote and the corresponding reference-list entry.
- For direct quotations, use a locator from your edition.
- Compare the final entry with an authoritative style guide and check that every in-text citation matches a full entry.
If your assignment involves several source types, a consistent reference list matters as much as one correctly formatted book entry. OakWrites provides editing, proofreading, and document-support services, including citation and formatting support. You can review OakWrites pricing or, when you are ready to submit your document for review, send your assignment through the OakWrites order page.
Frequently asked questions
Do I cite the original author or the translator?
Usually, cite the original author and credit the translator in the reference entry. In MLA, you may put the translator first when the translation itself is the focus of your discussion. Follow your required style guide.
Do I include both publication years?
APA uses the original and translation years in the in-text citation for a translated work and notes the original year at the end of the reference when known. MLA and Chicago generally cite the edition you used; consult their guidance if the original date matters to your discussion.
How do I cite a quote from a translated book?
Use the in-text citation, note, or footnote required by your style and include a page or other locator from the translation you actually read. The translator and edition details belong in the full citation.
What if the book has more than one translator?
Record the translator names as credited in your edition and use the relevant APA, MLA, or Chicago example for multiple contributors. Do not omit a credited translator simply to shorten the entry.
Key takeaways
- Identify the exact translated edition you used before writing the citation.
- Credit both the original author and the translator in the way your style requires.
- APA, MLA, and Chicago differ in contributor placement and date treatment.
- For quotations, use the locator from your own edition and verify the final entry against an authoritative guide.
Sources
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