AWS DATA SERVICES / AWS Labs
AWS Labs Amazon Translate
Translates text and manages document translation jobs and custom terminology with AWS Translate.
“A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that provides AI applications with access to neural machine translation service, Amazon Translate for text translation, managed batch processing, and smart translation workflow management across 75+ languages.”
01 / THE REASONING
Why this made the selection.
- Specialized publisher integration with documented IAM and data access boundaries.
- Translate a bounded piece of application copy with reviewed terminology and human language review.
- The awslabs/mcp catalogue entries do not include this Translate server.
- The README states both a uvx start line and a sample policy wide enough that a catalogue should not call it least privilege.
02 / THE REVIEW RECORD
What we actually inspected.
Source review has boundaries.
A clear record is more useful than a “safe” badge.
Material inspected
- src/amazon-translate-mcp-server/README.md
- src/amazon-translate-mcp-server/pyproject.toml
- src/amazon-translate-mcp-server/awslabs/amazon_translate_mcp_server/server.py
- Root README.md and LICENSE
- src/amazon-translate-mcp-server/LICENSE
Our findings
- Pinned server registers translate, terminology, batch and workflow tools; translation_service implements the quality-validation logic, so the entry avoids treating its score as independent evidence.
- The recommended start line is uvx awslabs.amazon-translate-mcp-server@latest, with a pip alternative that runs the server module.
- The tools section names translate_text, detect_language, batch jobs, terminology, and language operations. Those tools were not called.
- The sample IAM statement uses translate:* and three S3 actions on Resource *, and the README says an AWS account with Translate access is required and that AWS charges apply.
Not established by this review
- Server startup, authentication, live tool execution and security isolation were not tested.
- Published package/container parity with a source revision and hosted implementation internals were not tested.
- The resource was not executed and its tools were not called.
- The server was not started.
- No translation request was sent.
- The IAM policy was not applied.
The review applies to the material and revision named here. A newer upstream release can change its behavior.
03 / PUT IT TO WORK
Connect a server deliberately.
DOCUMENTED COMMAND
uvx awslabs.amazon-translate-mcp-server@latestCopying does not execute this command. It may retrieve a newer version than the reviewed source.
- Configure the target region/profile with only needed Translate and S3 permissions.
- For text translation specify language pair and terminology; verify the output with the intended audience before use.
- For batches supply reviewed S3 locations and data-access role, preserve the job ID and reconcile completion before retrying.
Before you start
- Python 3.10 or newer, uv/uvx and an MCP client that can launch a local stdio process.
- An AWS account, configured credentials and access to the intended region and service resources.
Documented configuration example
Use the client and authentication context described in the setup guidance. Configuration formats vary between hosts.
{
"mcpServers": {
"awslabs-translate": {
"command": "uvx",
"args": [
"awslabs.amazon-translate-mcp-server@latest"
],
"env": {
"AWS_PROFILE": "YOUR_RESTRICTED_PROFILE",
"AWS_REGION": "us-east-1"
}
}
}
}04 / FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE
The source trail.
Our notes are separate from the original resource.
Check upstream before adopting a new version.
https://github.com/awslabs/mcp/blob/8840003820a78dd018561d55c7ab12fcdd708464/src/amazon-translate-mcp-server/README.md
Supports: summary, install, configExample, access, limitations, bestFor, review, compatibility, transports
https://github.com/awslabs/mcp/blob/8840003820a78dd018561d55c7ab12fcdd708464/src/amazon-translate-mcp-server/pyproject.toml
Supports: summary, install, configExample, access, limitations, bestFor, review, compatibility, transports
https://github.com/awslabs/mcp/blob/8840003820a78dd018561d55c7ab12fcdd708464/src/amazon-translate-mcp-server/awslabs/amazon_translate_mcp_server/server.py
Supports: summary, install, configExample, access, limitations, bestFor, review, compatibility, transports
https://github.com/awslabs/mcp/blob/8840003820a78dd018561d55c7ab12fcdd708464/README.md
Supports: summary, install, configExample, access, limitations, bestFor, review, compatibility, transports
- Applicable licence ↗Checked
https://github.com/awslabs/mcp/blob/8840003820a78dd018561d55c7ab12fcdd708464/LICENSE
Supports: license
https://github.com/awslabs/mcp/blob/8840003820a78dd018561d55c7ab12fcdd708464/src/amazon-translate-mcp-server/awslabs/amazon_translate_mcp_server/translation_service.py
Supports: summary, install, configExample, access, limitations, bestFor, review, compatibility, transports
- Translate MCP README ↗Checked
https://github.com/awslabs/mcp/blob/8840003820a78dd018561d55c7ab12fcdd708464/src/amazon-translate-mcp-server/README.md
Supports: uvx line, sample policy, and charges note
- Directory LICENSE ↗Checked
https://github.com/awslabs/mcp/blob/8840003820a78dd018561d55c7ab12fcdd708464/src/amazon-translate-mcp-server/LICENSE
Supports: Apache License Version 2.0