translate

American  

[trans-layt, tranz-, trans-layt, tranz-] / trænsˈleɪt, trænz-, ˈtræns leɪt, ˈtrænz- /

verb (used with object)

• translates,
  present (3rd person singular)
• translated,
  past participle,  past
• translating
  present participle

1. to turn from one language into another or from a foreign language into one's own.

   to translate Spanish.

2. to change the form, condition, nature, etc., of; transform; convert.

   to translate wishes into deeds.

3. to explain in terms that can be more easily understood; interpret.

4. to bear, carry, or move from one place, position, etc., to another; transfer.

5. Mechanics. to cause (a body) to move without rotation or angular displacement; subject to translation.

6. Computers. to convert (a program, data, code, etc.) from one form to another.

   to translate a FORTRAN program into assembly language.

7. Telegraphy. to retransmit or forward (a message), as by a relay.

8. Ecclesiastical.

   1. to move (a bishop) from one see to another.

   2. to move (a see) from one place to another.

   3. to move (relics) from one place to another.

9. to convey or remove to heaven without natural death.

10. Mathematics. to perform a translation on (a set, function, etc.).

11. to express the value of (a currency) in a foreign currency by applying the exchange rate.

12. to exalt in spiritual or emotional ecstasy; enrapture.

---

verb (used without object)

• translates,
  present (3rd person singular)
• translated,
  past participle,  past
• translating
  present participle

1. to provide or make a translation; act as translator.

2. to admit of translation.

   The Greek expression does not translate easily into English.

translate British  

/ trænsˈleɪt, trænz- /

verb

1. to express or be capable of being expressed in another language or dialect

   he translated Shakespeare into Afrikaans

   his books translate well

2. (intr) to act as translator

3. (tr) to express or explain in simple or less technical language

4. (tr) to interpret or infer the significance of (gestures, symbols, etc)

5. (tr) to transform or convert

   to translate hope into reality

6. (tr; usually passive) biochem to transform the molecular structure of (messenger RNA) into a polypeptide chain by means of the information stored in the genetic code See also transcribe

7. to move or carry from one place or position to another

8. (tr)

   1. to transfer (a cleric) from one ecclesiastical office to another

   2. to transfer (a see) from one place to another

9. (tr) RC Church to transfer (the body or the relics of a saint) from one resting place to another

10. (tr) theol to transfer (a person) from one place or plane of existence to another, as from earth to heaven

11. maths physics to move (a figure or body) laterally, without rotation, dilation, or angular displacement

12. (intr) (of an aircraft, missile, etc) to fly or move from one position to another

13. archaic (tr) to bring to a state of spiritual or emotional ecstasy

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• translatability
  noun
• translatableness
  noun
• untranslatability
  noun
• pretranslate
  verb (used with object)
• retranslate
  verb (used with object)
• half-translated
  adjective
• intertranslatable
  adjective
• translatable
  adjective
• untranslatable
  adjective
• untranslated
  adjective
• well-translated
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• translating
  present
• translated
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• translate
  simple
• translates
  simple
• have translated
  perfect
• has translated
  perfect
• am translating
  progressive
• are translating
  progressive
• is translating
  progressive
• have been translating
  perfect progressive
• has been translating
  perfect progressive

Past

• translated
  simple
• had translated
  perfect
• was translating
  progressive
• were translating
  progressive
• had been translating
  perfect progressive

Future

• will translate
  simple
• will have translated
  perfect
• will be translating
  progressive
• will have been translating
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of translate

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English translaten, from Latin trānslātus “borne across,” past participle of trānsferre “to bear across,” from trāns- trans- + ferre “to bear, bring, carry” ( see also bear ¹); for the suppletive element -lātus, earlier tlātus (unrecorded), see also thole ², tolerate

Explanation

To translate is to put into a different language or interpret. If your brother says, "Gee, Mom, all of my friends have really cool pets, like snakes and stuff," you can translate that statement to mean "I want a snake." Translate comes from the Latin translates, which means "carry across." The word isn't limited to talking about language. You can translate sales into dollars, or a play into a movie. When used that way, translate means changing something from one form to another.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

translate translates translated translating

Individuals wearing smart glasses can take photos, film videos, listen to music, make phone calls, translate text or interact with an AI assistant.

From Barron's ● Oct. 13, 2026

I asked venture capitalist Steve Jurvetson to translate that into numbers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 11, 2026

While this does not automatically translate into bad weather in the UK it is "part of the picture" that is leading to concerns for the coming months, according to Jeremy Parr of NRW.

From BBC ● Oct. 11, 2026

It said the shareholder return plan was designed to ensure that the "fruits of the company's growth translate into tangible benefits" for shareholders.

From Barron's ● Oct. 8, 2026

When a calculation is complete, all the user has to do is look at the final position of the stones and translate that into a number—a pretty straightforward operation.

From "Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea" by Charles Seife

"Cannot wait for this," another said while another fan commented "anghygoel", which translates to amazing.

From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2026

“So if a merchant does more sales, and they’re using Shopify Payments, obviously some of that translates back to our financials.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026

Central to both Steinbeck’s novel and Kazan’s update is the author’s interpretation of the Hebrew word timshel, which he translates as “thou mayest.”

From Salon ● Oct. 3, 2026

She currently translates Greek and Egyptian writing preserved on ancient papyri at UC Berkeley's Center for the Tebtunis Papyri in the Bancroft Library.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 26, 2026

“Our people have an old saying. It translates to ‘Man makes plans and God laughs.’

From "Linked" by Gordon Korman

Their growing demographic weight, driven by a fertility rate of 6.5 children per woman, has translated into political influence.

From Barron's ● Oct. 13, 2026

If the approach can be translated to people, it could remove much of the manufacturing, expense, and delay that currently limits access to CAR-T therapy.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 7, 2026

Their wedding brought together family and friends from across the world, with parts of the ceremony translated live into Spanish and Russian for relatives travelling from Chile and Moldova.

From BBC ● Oct. 3, 2026

So far, the run-up in wheat futures hasn’t translated into substantial price increases on U.S. store shelves, but that is likely to change if supplies remain tight, analysts say.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 2026

Kubat was afraid that Vasiljevic wouldn’t release the advance payment unless Bobby first signed the contract, which had been translated into English by Zita.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady

"The real breakthrough won't come until these systems are not merely capable of translating but also of telling us when they're not sure," Yvon says.

From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026

Because revenue bonds, which would be used to fund this program, are riskier than other bonds, investors might demand a higher return, translating to a higher interest rate.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026

“Importantly, we are acting on our previously outlined priorities including restoring margins, increasing investment, reducing complexity, and rebalancing capital allocation, which are translating into measurable progress across the business,” Brase said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 30, 2026

AMD shares finished the day at $615.52, translating to a market capitalization of $1 trillion.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 21, 2026

It took Anya a moment to realize he was translating for Alfhercht.

From Anya and the Nightingale by Sofiya Pasternack

Related Words

• convert
• decipher
• put
• render
• spell out
• transcribe
• turn