Eukaryotic elongation factor-1 (eEF1) is essential for peptide-chain elongation during translation. We report that its γ subunit (eEF1Bγ) specifically binds, and bundles, keratin intermediate filaments. Disrupting this interaction depresses translation by ∼20% and selectively increases 80S ribosomes in epithelial cells, an outcome recapitulated by RNA interference–mediated silencing of eEF1Bγ. These findings extend the emerging relationship between keratin proteins and the translational machinery.