Sophie Hughes (born 1986) is a British literary translator who works chiefly from Spanish to English.
She is known for her translations of contemporary writers such as Laia Jufresa, Rodrigo Hasbún, Alia Trabucco Zerán and Fernanda Melchor. Her works have been shortlisted for the International Dublin Literary Award, International Booker Prize, Man Booker International Prize, along with other awards. As of 2025, after being longlisted for the International Booker Prize for her translation of Perfection by Vincenzo Latronico, Hughes has been nominated five times for the International Booker Prize, more than any other translator.
Hughes was born in Chertsey, Surrey, England, in June 1986 and currently lives in Birmingham. She was first interested in translation when she read a novel in English, but it did not have existing translations into Spanish at the time, so she started to translate it. She stated that she knew within just translating a few lines, that translation would become a central part of her life. She finds the freedom within the parameters of a really well-conceived story and tightly-controlled prose.
Hughes received a master's degree in Comparative Literature from University College London in 2011. Mentorship: She was mentored by translator Margaret Jull Costa, which was a pivotal educational step in her professional development.
Following graduation from University College London, Hughes moved to Mexico City and began working as Asymptote<nowiki/>'s editor-at-large. During this time, she also served as a guest editor for Words Without Borders. She also translated journalistic work about Mexico for English PEN and the Guardian, as well as a section of the essay collection The Sorrows of Mexico. Hughes has also worked as a translation correspondent for Dazed & Confused.
Hughes' first published book was a translation of The Boy Who Stole Attila's Horse by , published in 2015.
She is interested in co-translation and has worked with Amanda Hopkinson, Margaret Jull Costa, and Juana Adcock.