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 of translate

• summarize

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.

Recent Examples on the Web

Over time, Italy has built a distinctive entrepreneurial and manufacturing ecosystem, capable of translating ideas into products that combine quality and global relevance. — Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 21 Sep. 2026

His strength in the late nineties was a kind of calm under pressure, and his power in the next decade was translating that swaggering cool for ever-larger stages. — Hua Hsu, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026

The romance genre is extremely popular on the publishing side with massive engaged fan bases, and buyers on the film and TV side recognize the potential for that to translate to the screen. — Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 21 Sep. 2026

Ahead of the official American launch, Bimota invited Robb Report for an exclusive test ride at Northern California’s WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca to prove how much the manufacturer’s racing provenance translates to a road-legal superbike. — Michael Van Runkle, Robb Report, 21 Sep. 2026

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 1a

Phrases Containing translate

• translate into

Rhymes for translate

• abate
• airfreight
• await
• baseplate
• berate
• birthdate
• birthrate
• bookplate
• borate
• breastplate
• bromate
• casemate

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