Translational friction coefficients for cylinders of arbitrary axial ratios (including disks) are calculated using Monte Carlo simulation and an approximate description of the hydrodynamic interaction. The calculations indicate that the approximate description is exact for ellipsoids and this result is generalized to include cylinders, which possess the same symmetry as ellipsoids. From the result an approximate formula for the translational friction coefficient of cylinders is calculated which is compared to results from other sources. (C) 2004 American Institute of Physics.