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This page shows you:
  • How to install the DeepL CLI from source
  • How to authenticate and run your first translation
  • What commands are available for translation, writing, voice, and more
The DeepL CLI is an open-source (MIT license) command-line tool for interacting with the DeepL API. It covers text translation, document translation, writing enhancement, voice translation, glossary management, and admin operations — all from your terminal.

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Installation

The CLI requires Node.js (v18+) and build tools for native compilation:
  • macOS: Xcode Command Line Tools (xcode-select --install)
  • Linux: python3, make, gcc (apt install python3 make gcc g++)
  • Windows: Visual Studio Build Tools
git clone https://github.com/DeepLcom/deepl-cli.git
cd deepl-cli
npm install
npm run build
npm link

deepl --version

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Quick start

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1. Set up authentication

Use the interactive setup wizard: 
deepl init
Or set your API key directly: 
deepl auth set-key YOUR_API_KEY
Or use an environment variable: 
export DEEPL_API_KEY=YOUR_API_KEY

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2. Translate text

deepl translate "Hello, world!" --to es
# ¡Hola, mundo!

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3. Enhance your writing

deepl write "Their going to the stor tommorow" --lang en-us
# They're going to the store tomorrow.

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Key capabilities

CommandDescription
deepl translateTranslate text with support for formality, context, and custom instructions
deepl translate --fileTranslate text files while preserving code blocks and formatting
deepl documentTranslate documents (PDF, DOCX, PPTX, XLSX) with format preservation
deepl writeEnhance grammar and style via DeepL Write
deepl voiceStream real-time speech translation via WebSocket
deepl watchMonitor files and auto-translate on change
deepl glossaryCreate, list, and manage glossaries
deepl adminManage API keys, usage limits, and team access
deepl usageCheck API usage and character quotas
deepl configConfigure defaults (target language, formality, model)

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Usage examples

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Translate with context and formality

deepl translate "Thank you for your patience" --to de --formality more \
  --context "Customer support email to a long-standing client"

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Translate a document

deepl document translate report.pdf --to fr --output report-fr.pdf

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Batch translate a directory

deepl translate --file src/locales/en/ --to de,fr,es --output src/locales/

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Watch mode for development

deepl watch ./content/en --to de,fr --output ./content/

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Git hooks integration

Automatically translate changed files before each commit: 
deepl hooks install --pre-commit --languages de,fr

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Developer workflow features

  • Local SQLite cache with LRU eviction avoids redundant API calls
  • Monitor billed characters for budget planning with deepl usage
  • Use --quiet and --no-input flags for CI/CD pipelines
  • Generate shell completions for bash, zsh, fish, and PowerShell

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Further reading