Gertrúd Szakál was born in Gyula, Hungary, in 1974. She studied German and interpreting and translation in Szeged, Berlin and Graz. Since 2008, she has worked as a literary translator and editor, as well as a specialist translator and interpreter. Her main focus is translating children’s and young adult literature, including both fiction and non-fiction, from German into Hungarian.

She has lived and worked in Mühlacker, Germany, since 2013. Her most recent translations include:

• Sarah Welk, How Can You Change the World? – This Is How Democracy Works at Home, at Your School and in Your Country, Lampion Könyvek, 2026
• Kerstin Gier, The Silver Trilogy, Könyvmolyképző Kiadó, 2024
• Kathleen Freitag, Panka the Dandelion’s Adventures, Kolibri, 2022
• Janine Eck, 100 Things You Can Do for the Planet, Teknős Könyvek, 2020

Her credo:

“I view life and culture in Hungary and Germany both from close up and from a distance, and I have realised that constantly changing perspectives has become an integral part of my life. I hope this perspective allows me to represent both cultures, and I firmly believe that, as a translator, I can help build bridges between them.”