How to Switch Amazon Germany (Amazon.de) to English

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Written by: | Last updated on July 24, 2023 | Est. Reading Time: 4 minutes

Amazon Germany is a multilingual site that’s not only available in German, but also in other languages like English, Dutch, Polish, Turkish and Czech. To change the default language from German into any of the other languages, simply head to Amazon.de and click on the globe that’s located just below the search box.

This changes everything into English – even your product searches will be translated from English into German. Sometimes Amazon’s automatic translation is a little off, but overall it works very well.

Unfortunately, the actual product page isn’t always translated into English. Often you’ll click on a product and all of the important information will be in German. Unless you already know that you definitely want to purchase this product, you’ll probably want to be able to read about it in English.

There are a couple of ways to translate the product page. Either:

  1. Paste the URL of the product into Google Translate.
  2. Use your web browser to translate the page.

Using Google Translate

Did you know that you can copy a URL and paste it into Google Translate, and Google will translate that entire webpage for you? This is much more convenient than highlighting the text, copying it, and pasting it into Google Translate. It’s also much tidier as well. By copying the URL as opposed to the text, Google will retain the shape and layout of the page you’re trying to translate rather than just showing you a huge block of text.

Translating Amazon using your browser

Rather than copying and pasting URLs or sections of text into Google Translate, many browsers allow you to click a button and do it within the browser.

Google Chrome

Google Chrome is by far the easiest web browser to use when it comes to translating webpages. Unlike Edge and Firefox, Google Translate comes pre-built into the browser and there’s no need to install any add-ons or plugins.

To translate a webpage, simply click the Google Translate icon at the end of the address bar.

Edge

Edge is Microsoft’s browser, and any laptop or desktop computer running Windows will come with Edge (or its predecessor Internet Explorer). Unlike Google Chrome, Edge doesn’t automatically come with a translation function. If you want to translate anything, you’ll have to install an extension like ‘Translator for Microsoft Edge‘.

Installing this will add an icon to the end of the address bar. Simply click this and Edge will translate the page.

Firefox

Like Edge, Firefox doesn’t have an inbuilt translation service. If you want to translate a webpage within the browser, you’ll have to download a Firefox extension. There are quite a few, including S3.Browser, and it only takes a couple of seconds to install them.

S3 adds a new icon to your browser, in the top right-hand corner. Simply click the icon, and you’ll be asked whether you want to translate the page.

Tips for shopping at Amazon Germany

  • Amazon is just one of several ‘Amazons’ that delivers to Portugal. Portuguese residents also shop at Amazon Spain (which you can also translate into English), Amazon UK, and occasionally Amazon.com.
  • Amazon Germany is the biggest Amazon in continental Europe. Even though Amazon Spain is closer geographically, often it’s cheaper to shop at Amazon Germany. Often Amazon Germany will be cheaper than Amazon UK as well.
  • Some sellers on Amazon.de won’t ship to Portugal or, if they’re willing to, often they charge an exorbitant amount to do so. If that’s the case, take a look at the other sellers and see if anyone else ships to Portugal. Failing that, you could use a parcel forwarding service like MyGermany which gives you with an address in Germany and then forwards your package to Germany.

Do you shop at Amazon Germany? Have you switched your language settings to English or do you keep your account in German and just translate as you need to? Share your thoughts and reviews of Amazon Germany by leaving a comment below. 

Written by

James Cave is the founder of Portugalist and the author of the bestselling book, Moving to Portugal Made Simple. He has visited just about every part of Portugal, including Madeira and all nine islands of the Azores, and lived in several parts of Portugal including Lisbon, the Algarve, and Northern Portugal.

You can contact James by emailing james@portugalist.com or via the site's contact form.

Portugalist.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for website owners to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon (.es, .co.uk, .de etc) and any other website that may be affiliated with Amazon Service LLC.

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Comments

  1. I am visiting Germany and do not have access to my phone here. How do I access Amazon from here?? You seriously need to have an option to use EMAIL as a option to sign into Amazon!!! Everyone wants this option. What is your problem with doing this!!!!!! Very angry customer!!!!!!

    Reply
    • It doesn’t seem like you can switch languages on Amazon UK.

      Yes, Amazon UK deliver to Ireland but be aware of import charges because of Brexit. Amazon Germany won’t have this issue.

      Reply
      • Veronica wants to switch FROM Amazon UK TO Amazon Germany.
        I also live in Ireland and want to switch to Amazon Germany.
        Can my existing account with Amazon UK be switched over to Amazon Germany or will I have to create a new account?
        Thank You!

        Reply
        • Ah okay…I thought people were talking about a language switch.

          Yes, you have to create a new account on Amazon Germany. They’re separate companies basically.

          As to whether they’ll deliver, it depends a bit on the seller. All you can do is put the item in your basket, head to checkout, and see. The majority of items should be available for delivery to Ireland though.

          Due to Brexit, it’s possible that Amazon Germany will replace Amazon UK as the main Amazon for Irish shoppers. It’s already the Amazon site of choice for a lot of Europe.

          Reply
          • Is it easy to change to Amazon Germany ? I’m with Amazon uk & Amazon es.But heard many good things of Amazon Germany.

          • Yes, it’s easy to use. Everything is much the same as the other two and you can even switch the language to English.

  2. I tried to order a cd from a German source on Amazon.de to be delivered to a Berlin address, instead it is being sent to Tennessee. I would like to order something else from AmazonDe to be delivered to Berlin but…am not able to. In the middle of my previous order I was switched to German which I don’t understand. What to do?

    Reply
    • Hi Teddi,

      There’s maybe also a Berlin in Tennessee? Make sure you have the country in the shipping address selected to Germany. I imagine by default, if you’re shopping on Amazon.de it would assume you mean Berlin in Germany.

      Reply
  3. I placed an order for a pair of Finn Comfort shoes from Amazon DE Germany but it was in German language I don’t know if the order went thru can you please check my account with Amazon and let me know if the order was placed. Thanks

    Reply
    • Hi Mary,

      Follow the instructions above to view Amazon.de in English and you’ll be able to see whether the order was placed or not.

      Reply
  4. I purchased a stand fan from the amazon.de and I received the fan that I requested and want to returned it, amazon.de responded to me in Germany with a returned label. I went to review the label to print, I had to log in using my amazon username and password and I think that it is telling that I have the wrong username and password for amazon.de. I am unable to understand the what the message is saying, I think the message is saying that have the wrong log in information. Please help!!!

    Reply
    • Hi Donna,

      You’ll need to either copy and paste the message into Google Translate or if you’re using the Chrome browser, you can translate the entire page. The instructions are in the article above.

      Reply

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