translate

verb

trans·​late tran(t)s-ˈlāt 

tranz-;

ˈtran(t)s-ˌlāt,

ˈtranz-

translated; translating

transitive verb

1

a

: to turn into one's own or another language

b

: to transfer or turn from one set of symbols into another : transcribe

c(1)

: to express in different terms and especially different words : paraphrase

(2)

: to express in more comprehensible terms : explain, interpret

2

a

: to bear, remove, or change from one place, state, form, or appearance to another : transfer, transform

translate ideas into action

b

: to convey to heaven or to a nontemporal condition without death

c

: to transfer (a bishop) from one see to another

3

: enrapture

4

: to subject to mathematical translation

5

: to subject (genetic information) to translation in protein synthesis

intransitive verb

1

: to practice translation or make a translation

also : to admit of or be adaptable to translation

a word that doesn't translate easily

2

: to undergo a translation

3

: lead, result

—usually used with into

believes that tax cuts will translate into economic growth

translatability

(ˌ)tran(t)s-ˌlā-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

(ˌ)tranz-

noun

The translatability of other native two-dimensional designs into the commercial medium of silk screens, however, may not be so clearcut.

—Margaret B. Blackman et al.

translatable

tran(t)s-ˈlā-tə-bəl 

tranz-

adjective

The word is of Derrida's own coinage and is deliberately ambiguous (and therefore not translatable), being derived from the French …

—Ann Jefferson

… but the resultant information is spotty and not readily translatable into an average national trend.

—Barry Commoner

translator

ˈtran(t)s-ˌlā-tər 

ˈtranz-;

tran(t)s-ˈlā-tər

tranz-

noun

Synonyms

• paraphrase
• rephrase
• restate
• reword

Examples of translate in a Sentence

My client speaks only Spanish. Will you translate for me?

The French word “bonjour” translates as “hello” in English.

We need someone who can translate Japanese into English.

We have translated the report.

The book has been translated into 37 languages.

Can you translate this technical jargon?

Seventy million Americans—that translates into one American out of every four—are under the age of 24.

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Recent Examples on the Web

For character designer Bill Schwab, translating an essential piece of Disney lore into a living character was no small task. —Katcy Stephan, Variety, 22 Nov. 2023

Then there’s payments company Stripe, which uses OpenAI’s tech to combat fraud, and Iceland’s government, which uses it to help quickly translate foreign language websites into Icelandic in an effort to protect its language. —Phil Wahba, Fortune, 21 Nov. 2023

Whether that translates to an eventual Broadway production is too soon to predict. —David Browne, Rolling Stone, 20 Nov. 2023

The 16:9 screen on this frame is very wide, which translates to frequent letterboxing and pillarboxing in the display. —Valerie Walsh, wsj.com, 20 Nov. 2023

Internally, staff have been speculating the changes would eliminate some 10% of positions, which would likely translate to thousands of jobs. —David Benoit, WSJ, 20 Nov. 2023

In a video posted to X, which has been translated from Portuguese to English, Mayor Eduardo Paes said a projection would be showcased on the statue on Thursday, comparing Swift's presence in Brazil to that of Michael Jackson and Madonna. —Jenny Haward, Peoplemag, 18 Nov. 2023

Consequently, multiple attempts to translate successful regenerative therapy in mice to humans have failed. —Gail Dutton, Discover Magazine, 16 Nov. 2023

SamMobile’s Mihai Matei has more details on one of the practical AI features to use Samsung Gauss, a service to translate between languages on a call. —Ewan Spence, Forbes, 13 Nov. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French translater, from Latin translatus (past participle of transferre to transfer, translate), from trans- + latus, past participle of ferre to carry — more at tolerate, bear

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2a

Phrases Containing translate

• translate into

• translate into

Kids Definition

translate

verb

trans·​late tran(t)s-ˈlāt  tranz- 

translated; translating

1

: to change from one place, state, or form to another : transform

translate ideas into action

2

: to transport miraculously to heaven without death

3

a

: to change from one language or set of symbols into another

translate Japanese into English

b

: to express in different words : paraphrase

c

: to explain in a clearer way : interpret

needed a lawyer to translate the contract

4

: to be translated

5

: to have as a result

—usually used with into

believes that more homework will translate into better grades

translatable

-ˈlāt-ə-bəl 

adjective

translator

-ˈlāt-ər 

noun

Medical Definition

translate

transitive verb

trans·​late tran(t)s-ˈlāt, tranz- 

translated; translating

: to subject (as genetic information) to translation in protein synthesis