Convert Excel to YAML online
Upload a Excel file and download it as YAML. Translation keys, plurals and placeholders are preserved. Free, no account needed.
Pick the source format or let the converter detect it from the file.
Choose the format you want to download.
YAML translation files use indentation instead of braces, which makes them easy to read and diff. Ruby on Rails, Symfony and many static site generators keep their locale files in YAML.
Need it the other way round? Convert YAML to Excel.
From: Excel
An .xlsx workbook with translation keys in the first column and one column per language. Excel is the format most non-technical translators and reviewers are comfortable with.
Used by: Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, LibreOffice. All languages in one file. Read the Excel format guide.
To: YAML
YAML translation files use indentation instead of braces, which makes them easy to read and diff. Ruby on Rails, Symfony and many static site generators keep their locale files in YAML.
Used by: Ruby on Rails, Symfony, Jekyll, Hugo. One language per file. Read the YAML format guide.
hello-world: Hello World!
nested:
translation:
key: Nested translation key
other:
translation:
key:
supported: Look this is also supported!How to convert Excel to YAML
- Drop your .xlsx file into the converter above, or paste its content.
- Click Convert. You get one .yml file per language.
- Preview the result, copy it or download the files.
What changes between Excel and YAML
- Excel holds every language in one file, so the converter writes one YAML file per language found in the source.
- Keys are written flat by default. Enable "Write nested keys" to turn a.b.c into nested objects.
Convert and translate in one place
If you need the YAML file in more languages, the fastest route is a free SimpleLocalize project: import the Excel file, add languages, run auto-translation with DeepL, Google Translate, OpenAI, Claude or Gemini, and download the result as YAML. The CLI does the same from CI with upload and download commands, so the conversion becomes part of your build. See also translating Excel files.
Frequently asked questions
Is the converter free?
Yes. There is no signup and no limit on the number of conversions beyond a few requests per second.
Are my files stored?
No. The file is parsed in memory, converted and returned in the same request. Nothing is written to disk or a database.
What about plurals and placeholders?
Plural forms are normalized to ICU message syntax and written back in the native form of YAML. Placeholders are kept, and Apple and Android specific syntax is translated between platforms. Read more in the pluralization guide.
Convert Excel to other formats
Translate your YAML files
- Import Excel or YAML files into a free project
- Auto-translate with DeepL, Google, OpenAI, Claude or Gemini
- Download in any of the supported formats or publish to the CDN