Cody Stetzel

List of Poetry Translators

List of Poetry Translators

Poetry translators make world literature readable across borders. This page serves as a global directory of poetry translators, documenting writers who translate poetry into English from dozens of languages and traditions. The list includes translators working across contemporary, classical, experimental, and diasporic poetry, offering readers and researchers a starting point for exploring poetry in translation through the people who shape it.

This index functions as a central reference hub within the International Poetry Library and complements country-based and language-based poetry resources.

One of the most robust crimes in literature, in my humble opinion, is the trend to leave off translators from publication listings. This commits a heinous error in responsibility and trace, in detailing the work, passion, and intelligence that goes in to translating poetry. But it also is an immense disrespect to translators everywhere by stating that this unique position isn’t even worthy of having their name listed. As a result, I intend to try rectifying this as much as I can, to include as many translators as I can find available, and to make sure they have a maintained footprint to the work they produce.

Another vast database of translators with less of a fixation on published books and more on individual efforts is Lyrikline.

What is a Poetry Translator?

A poetry translator is a literary practitioner who translates poems from one language into another while negotiating form, rhythm, metaphor, and cultural context. Unlike prose translation, poetry translation often involves interpretive decisions that shape how a poem lives in a new language.

Many translators are also poets, scholars, editors, or critics, and their work frequently bridges literary communities across continents.

How to Use This List of Poetry Translators

  • Browse alphabetically to discover translators by name
  • Use this list as a starting point for researching translated poetry
  • Cross-reference translators with country, language, or press directories
  • Identify translators associated with specific poetic traditions or movements

Over time, individual translators may be expanded into dedicated profile pages featuring language pairs, notable works, and publication history.

Translators In This Directory

This list is ever-growing, incomplete, and mostly speaking to contemporary translators and individuals actively publishing. This is not to de-value the independent act of translation, nor to undermine historical efforts made toward translation; rather to acknowledge that I am a single person with a limited scope of knowledge.

I also want to acknowledge that, as I continue committing my hours to this project, I’d love to attribute languages to each translator.

By Language
Explore poetry in translation by language, with a count of how much literature is available for each language.
By Press or Publisher
As this is an incomplete database, look through the full publisher’s catalogue for any press you’re interested in.
By Country
Browse translated poetry by the author’s country of origin. See the swathe of talent available throughout the world.

Featured Poetry Translator Profiles

These profiles are designed as evergreen authority pages: readable for humans, indexable for search engines, and easily expandable as you add bibliographies or interviews.

Robin Myers

Primary Language Pair: Spanish → English
Associated Regions: Latin America (Mexico, Argentina, Chile)
Roles: Poet, translator, editor

Robin Myers is a leading contemporary poetry translator working primarily from Spanish into English. Her translations are known for preserving tonal precision and emotional restraint, especially in politically and socially charged Latin American poetry. Myers’s work frequently appears with independent and university presses that foreground translation as a literary art rather than a technical service.

As both a poet and translator, Myers brings a lyric sensibility to her translations, carefully balancing fidelity with formal clarity. Her work has played a central role in expanding English-language access to contemporary Latin American poetry in the past decade.

GenreTitle / WorkPublicationURL
• Translation (Poem)Two Poems by Mariana Spada (translated by Robin Myers)Poetry Northwesthttps://www.poetrynw.org/mariana-spada-two-poemstranslation-by-robin-myers/
• Feature / ProfileRobin Myers contributor pageWords Without Bordershttps://wordswithoutborders.org/contributors/view/robin-myers/
• Essay / ProfileInterview with Robin Myers & Claudia Masin (mentions Myers’s translation of “Tomboy”)Words Without Bordershttps://wordswithoutborders.org/read/article/2019-09/an-interview-with-wwb-poetry-contest-winners-claudia-masin-and-robin-myers/

Karen Emmerich

Primary Language Pair: Greek → English
Associated Regions: Greece
Roles: Translator, scholar, critic

Karen Emmerich is internationally recognized for her translations of modern Greek poetry and for her scholarly work on translation theory. Her translations are frequently cited for their intellectual rigor and sensitivity to historical and political context. In addition to translating, Emmerich has written extensively on the ethics and visibility of literary translation.

Her dual role as translator and theorist positions her as a key figure in contemporary discussions about how poetry crosses languages and cultures.

GenreTitlePublication / PublisherURL
Interview / EssayTranslator Relay: Karen EmmerichWords Without Bordershttps://wordswithoutborders.org/read/article/2014-10/translator-relay-karen-emmerich/ (Words Without Borders)
Poems (excerpt)Two poems by Eleni Vakalo (translated by Karen Emmerich)Το κόσκινο (Greek lit blog)https://tokoskino.me/2014/06/28/eleni-vakalo-two-poems-translated-in-english-by-karen-emmerich/

Sawako Nakayasu

Primary Language Pair: Japanese → English
Associated Regions: Japan
Roles: Poet, translator, performance artist

Sawako Nakayasu’s translation work spans classical and modern Japanese poetry as well as experimental and interdisciplinary texts. Her translations are often shaped by her own practice as an innovative poet, bringing attention to sound, spacing, and visual form.

Nakayasu’s work exemplifies a contemporary approach to poetry translation that embraces hybridity, performance, and cross-genre experimentation, making her a central figure in discussions of modern Japanese poetry in English.

GenreTitle / WorkPublication / RecordingURL
• RecordingSawako Nakayasu reads poetry & discusses translationPennSound: Cross-Cultural Poeticshttps://writing.upenn.edu/pennsound/x/XCP.php (#321 includes Nakayasu)
• Profile / Publication referenceThe Collected Poems of Chika Sagawa (translation edited by Nakayasu)Canarium Books (reference)https://www.canariumbooks.org/sagawa.html

Yvette Siegert

Primary Language Pair: German → English
Associated Regions: Germany, Austria
Roles: Literary translator, editor

Yvette Siegert is a highly respected translator of German-language literature, including poetry and prose. Her translations are recognized for their stylistic confidence and editorial precision. Siegert has played an influential role in shaping how contemporary German-language poetry is read in English.

Beyond translation, her editorial work has helped establish high standards for translated literature in international publishing contexts.

GenreTitle / WorkPublication / RecordingURL
• RecordingYvette Siegert discusses & reads translationsPennSound: Cross-Cultural Poeticshttps://writing.upenn.edu/pennsound/x/XCP.php (#321 & #139 include Siegert)
Poetry (Translation)Frail Before the SqualorWords Without BordersFrail Before the Squalor by Carmen Ollé – Words Without Borders
• Contributor mentionYvette Siegert listed as PEN/Heim granteeLiterary news archivehttps://lithub.com/100-translators-call-for-pen-america-to-relinquish-control-of-the-heim-fund/

Daniel Hahn

Primary Language Pair: Spanish / Portuguese / French → English
Associated Regions: Latin America, Europe
Roles: Translator, editor, literary advocate

Daniel Hahn is widely known for both his translation work and his advocacy for translated literature. His translations span poetry and prose, and his editorial leadership has helped elevate translation within mainstream literary publishing.

Hahn’s influence extends beyond individual translations to shaping broader institutional support for global literature in English.

GenreTitlePublicationURL
EssayOn Translating and Publishing World LiteratureWords Without Bordershttps://wordswithoutborders.org/read/article/2011-03/reviewing-translations/
EssayWhy Translation MattersLiterary Hubhttps://lithub.com/why-translation-matters/

Why Poetry Translators Matter in World Literature

Poetry translators shape how literary traditions travel. Their choices influence which poets are read internationally, how movements are understood, and how cultural histories are preserved or transformed. Any serious exploration of global poetry must engage with translators as creative agents rather than invisible intermediaries.

Future Expansion of This Poetry Translator Index

This list is designed to evolve into a richer reference tool. Planned additions include:

  • Individual translator profile pages
  • Language-pair tagging
  • Linked country and press indexes
  • Bibliographies of translated works
  • Essays on translation practice and ethics

Frequently Asked Questions

What qualifies someone as a poetry translator?

A poetry translator has published translations of poetry, whether in books, journals, anthologies, or digital platforms.

Are translators also poets?

Often, yes. Many poetry translators also write original poetry, though translation itself is a distinct literary practice.

How should I use this list for research?

Start with a translator’s name, then explore their language pairs, collaborations, and translated authors through linked country and press resources.

Closing Note

This List of Poetry Translators serves as a foundational reference within the International Poetry Library. As translation remains central to global literary exchange, this index will continue growing alongside the poetry it helps carry across languages.

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