translate

American  

[trans-leyt, tranz-, trans-leyt, 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.

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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

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

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

Conjugated Forms

Present

• has translated
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have translated
  perfect
• has been translating
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• have been translating
  perfect progressive
• are translating
  progressive
• is translating
  progressive 3rd person singular
• translates
  singular 3rd person
• translating
  participle
• am translating
  progressive 1st person singular

Past

• had translated
  perfect
• translated
  simple
• were translating
  progressive plural
• had been translating
  perfect progressive
• translated
  participle
• was translating
  progressive singular

Future

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

But not everyone goes to Harvard Medical School, and doing a residency at a large academic institution doesn’t always translate into being an exemplary physician.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 3, 2026

The next question is whether England can translate this performance into one under pressure on the world stage, something they have failed to do in recent years.

From BBC • Jun. 2, 2026

Future studies will look more closely at how methionine works, whether other amino acids may produce similar or complementary effects, and how the findings might translate to people.

From Science Daily • Jun. 1, 2026

Those visits, he added, would likely translate to greater demand at its stores overall.

From Barron's • May 29, 2026

All I knew was that it didn't translate over drinks.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

Related Words

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