Deepl MCP Server

MCP server for DeepL translation API

Local serverstdio

What is the Deepl MCP server?

MCP server for DeepL translation API. That is what the deepl mcp server brings to an AI assistant: the same capability, reachable through the Model Context Protocol rather than a separate app or dashboard.

The short version

A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that exposes DeepL text translation, document translation, rephrasing, and glossary and style rule lookups as MCP tools.

The tools it exposes

The server publishes 14 tools. What each one is for:

  • translate — document reads and writes files on the machine running the server. Without outputFile, the output path is derived from the input by appending the
  • translate-text — Translates text into a target language
  • translate-document — Translates a document file (PDF, DOCX, PPTX, XLSX, HTML, TXT, and more) and writes the result to disk
  • rephrase-text — Rephrases text, optionally into another language
  • get-source-languages — Lists the language codes accepted as a translation source
  • get-target-languages — Lists the language codes accepted as a translation target
  • get-writing-styles — Lists the style values rephrase-text accepts
  • get-writing-tones — Lists the tone values rephrase-text accepts
  • list-glossaries — Lists every glossary in the account with its id, name, dictionaries, and creation time
  • get-glossary-info — Returns the same metadata as list-glossaries for a single glossary
  • get-glossary-dictionary-entries — Returns the term entries of one glossary dictionary, meaning one language pair in one direction
  • list-style-rules — Lists the style rules in the account with their id, name, language, and timestamps

Getting it running

The server ships on npm as deepl-mcp-server, so your MCP client can launch it on demand — there is no separate build step. Add the server block to your client's configuration, restart it, and the tools register themselves.

What it needs from you

Configuration is passed through the environment: DEEPL_API_KEY. Treat anything key-shaped as a real credential — scope it to the minimum the server needs, and rotate it if it ever lands in a shared config.

How it compares

Among the developer tooling options, the useful question is rarely "what can it do" but "what does it cost you to run" — permissions, credentials, and how much of your context its toolset consumes. Deepl's toolset — translate, translate-text, translate-document and 11 more — is a fair guide to whether it matches your workflow. It is maintained by DeepLcom; worth a glance at recent repository activity before you build anything load-bearing on it.

This entry was verified against Deepl's own documentation before publication; SyncDev keeps the directory reviewed rather than auto-generated.

Things to watch

  • It runs with your machine's permissions. That is convenient and also the reason to think about what you point it at before you approve a tool call.
  • With 14 tools registered it takes up a noticeable share of the context window; turn it off in projects that never touch Deepl.
  • Missing credentials fail quietly in some clients — if no tools show up, check the environment block first.
  • Keep per-call confirmation enabled while you learn its behaviour; it is the cheapest safeguard you have.

Available tools

ToolWhat it does
translatedocument reads and writes files on the machine running the server. Without outputFile, the output path is derived from the input by appending the target language code, for example report_de.pdf. With outputFormat, the de
translate-textTranslates text into a target language.
translate-documentTranslates a document file (PDF, DOCX, PPTX, XLSX, HTML, TXT, and more) and writes the result to disk.
rephrase-textRephrases text, optionally into another language.
get-source-languagesLists the language codes accepted as a translation source.
get-target-languagesLists the language codes accepted as a translation target.
get-writing-stylesLists the style values rephrase-text accepts.
get-writing-tonesLists the tone values rephrase-text accepts.
list-glossariesLists every glossary in the account with its id, name, dictionaries, and creation time.
get-glossary-infoReturns the same metadata as list-glossaries for a single glossary.
get-glossary-dictionary-entriesReturns the term entries of one glossary dictionary, meaning one language pair in one direction.
list-style-rulesLists the style rules in the account with their id, name, language, and timestamps.
get-style-ruleReturns one style rule in full, including its configured rules and custom instructions.
get-custom-instructionReturns a single custom instruction belonging to a style rule.

How to install the Deepl MCP server

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "deepl": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "deepl-mcp-server"],
      "env": {
        "DEEPL_API_KEY": "your-value"
      }
    }
  }
}

Add to claude_desktop_config.json, then restart Claude Desktop.

Configuration

VariableDescriptionRequired
DEEPL_API_KEYCredential the server authenticates with.Yes

Example prompts to try

  • Use Deepl to translate.
  • Use Deepl to translate-text.
  • Use Deepl to translate-document.

Frequently asked questions

It connects Deepl to MCP-compatible AI assistants such as Claude and Cursor, exposing 14 tools (translate, translate-text, translate-document, and more) that the assistant can call on your behalf. Instead of copying data back and forth by hand, the assistant works with Deepl directly.