WordGarden.iotranslate
B1Pronunciation
UK
- /trænslˈeɪt/
US
- /trænˈsleɪt/
Meanings
Verb
to express words or speech in another language
to make an idea, text, or design work in another form, medium, or real-world context
to convert code, data, or digital content from one language or format into another
More meaningsFewer meanings
to decode genetic information in RNA to build a protein
Beyond the definition
Imagine you're telling a story to someone who doesn't speak your language. You wouldn't just shout louder. You'd translate it by finding the words in their language that best match what you mean. But "translate" isn't only about languages. A doctor might translate complex medical terms into simple words a patient can understand. You can also translate ideas, feelings, or signs into something clearer. In that sense, to translate is to help meaning move from one form of expression to another.
To translate fundamentally means to convert something from one form into another, maintaining its meaning as closely as possible. Most commonly, we think of translating languages: taking a text in Spanish and rendering it accurately into English, for example. "The translator skillfully translated the ancient manuscript." This requires not just knowing vocabulary but also understanding cultural nuances and grammatical structures.
However, translate extends beyond literal language. You can translate an idea into action—turning a concept into something tangible. A chef might translate a childhood memory into a delicious dish, or a scientist might translate complex data into a visual chart to make it easier to understand.
Furthermore, translate can mean to interpret or explain something that is not immediately clear. For example, if someone can translate legal language into plain English, they make it easier for others to understand. In a more creative sense, "The artist translated her grief onto the canvas" suggests a deep feeling was expressed through a different medium.
So, whether it's bridging linguistic gaps, turning ideas into reality, or deciphering hidden meanings, translate is about making something understandable in a new context—finding equivalent expressions to convey the same core message.
Examples
- 1
Polite request
Could you translate this message into English for me?
- 2
Tourist help
The guide translated the driver's instructions for the tourists.
- 3
Humor
It's hard to translate jokes from one language to another.
- 4
Word choice
The word is often translated as "home," but it can mean more than that.
- Patterntranslate as + word/phrase
use a particular word or phrase in another language
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Helping relatives
She translated for her grandparents at the bank.
- Patterntranslate for + person
say in another language what another person means
- 6
Practical results
His ideas were interesting, but they did not translate into a workable plan.
- Patterntranslate into + result/form
become or lead to something in a different form
- 7
Stage adaptation
The warmth of her writing translates well on stage.
- Patterntranslate well on stage/on screen
have the same effect in another form
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
Contrast
- leave untranslated
- mistranslate
Do not confuse
- transliterate
Used with (collocations)
- translate a text
- translate from French into English
- translate word for word
- translate accurately
Word family
Explore
- source language
- target language
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- translateverb
Forms
- translatedpast tenseverb
- translatesverb
- translating-ing formverb