Founded in 1991, the Translation Cell of Alliance Française de Madras comprises around fifteen teachers of the Alliance Française who are certified by French universities in teaching French as a foreign language, and have undergone training in translation. For most of them, English is their first language.

This active Cell works in three languages-French, English and Tamil and translates official as well as specialized documents. Apart from the Translation Cell, a section of literary translation from French to Tamil has also developed, contributing to the promotion and dissemination of French thought and literature.

From 2002, AFM has been translating research works of IRASEC, the Bangkok-based Institute for Research on contemporary Southeast Asia, and from 2006, a large number of reports of NGOs working in Tamil Nadu, as well as for Indian and French corporate clients.