Many books have been translated into widely used languages such as English, French, Spanish, and Italian. However, some literary works are so popular that they have been translated into hundreds of foreign languages and dialects. So which book tops the list of the world's most translated books?
The Bible – the most translated book in the world
If you include religious works in the list of most translated books, the Bible becomes the most translated book in the world. Originally translated into three languages (Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic), the complete Bible (New and Old Testaments) is available in 704 languages and dialects as of 2021, the latest figures. It also reaches 6.1 billion people worldwide. .
If you include religious works in the list of most translated books, the Bible becomes the most translated book in the world. It was originally translated into three languages: Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic. But now, according to the latest figures for 2021, the complete Bible (New and Old Testaments) is available in 704 languages and dialects, reaching 6.1 billion people worldwide.
“The Little Prince'' is the most translated book in the world after the Bible
The Little Prince, by French author Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, is the second most translated book in the world after the Bible. This philosophical adventure was published in 1943 and has been told in more than 475 languages. The 300th translation of this book was made in Hassan, Morocco's Saharan dialect. This is highly symbolic, as it was this region of the Moroccan desert where the Hassanian language is spoken, or more precisely Cape Judi, that inspired Saint-Exupéry to write this literary masterpiece.
The Little Prince is translated into the world's most widely spoken languages, as well as many rare languages (Quechua, French, German, Italian regional dialects, Aramaic, Berber, Ancient Egyptian, etc.) It has been.
2nd most translated book in the world
Below is a list of the second most translated books in the world.
Carlo Collodi's Pinocchio
The story of the famous doll that transforms into a little boy was published in 1883 and was originally written in Italian, but has since been translated into 260 languages.
Lewis Carroll's “Alice's Adventures in Wonderland”
Published in English in 1865. This beloved novel has been translated into 174 languages around the world, allowing millions of readers to marvel at Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and her magical tales.
Jules Verne's “A Voyage Around the World Under the Sea''
The story of Captain Nemo is said to have been told in over 170 languages, including the original French version. Published in 1870, this famous book has since enjoyed international success and is undoubtedly one of the most important books in the classic novel.
HC Andersen's Fairy Tales Written by Hans Christian Andersen
HC Andersen's fairy tales have been translated from Danish into over 150 languages. These works include The Ugly Duckling, The Little Mermaid, The Pea Princess, and The Snow Queen, to name a few.
“Don Quixote” by Miguel de Cervantes
Originally titled El ingenioso hidalgo don Quixote de la Mancha, this Spanish novel by Miguel de Cervantes was published in 1605, and since then the book has been translated into over 145 languages. This makes this book the oldest and most translated book after the Bible.
Originally titled El Ingenioso Hidalgo don Quixote de la Mancha, this Spanish novel by Miguel de Cervantes was published in 1605, and since then the book has been translated into over 145 languages. This makes this book the oldest and most translated book after the Bible.
Tintin af Hergé
Tintin in the comics is as much a world traveler as the main character and his faithful dog. Published in French from 1929 to 1976, it has been translated into 115 languages to date.
Asterix by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo
Now, you're probably wondering how many languages this wonderful French comic has been translated into. Since the comic was first published in 1960, The Adventures of Asterix has been translated into 115 languages around the world.
Harry Potter by JK Rowling
Within 20 years, the globally popular Harry Potter books have already been translated from English into 80 languages.
Other most translated novels in the world include: Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren (translated from Swedish into 70 languages). The Kon-Tiki Expedition by Thor Heyerdahl (translated from Norwegian into over 70 languages). Pilgrimage by John Bunyan (translated from English into approximately 100 languages). The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho (translated from Portuguese into approximately 60 languages).
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Frequently asked questions about the world's most translated books
The Bible is the most widely read book in the world. In 2020, 5 billion copies of the Bible were published worldwide, making it the world's best-selling and most translated book.
The Koran, another religious book, is the second most read book in the world after the Bible, with 3 billion copies sold.
Former Chinese President Mao Zedong's “Little Red Book” came in third place with 820 million copies sold.
Miguel de Cervante's “Don Quixote'' and JK Rowling's “Harry Potter'' come in at number four, both having sold over 500 million copies.
