What does translation mean?
Translation is the process of expressing words, speech, or meaning in another language, as well as the resulting version of a text. A translation may preserve the original closely, as with a literal rendering, or adapt wording and style to suit a new language and audience. The word also has broader figurative uses: a spoken explanation can be called a translation into simpler terms, while the conversion of an abstract concept into a practical plan can be described as its translation into action. In literary and historical work, translation can be a highly skilled creative act rather than a mechanical substitution of words. The related verb, less common than “translate,” means to render something in another language or to interpret it for a particular audience. Together, these uses reflect translation’s central role as a bridge between languages, cultures, and forms of knowledge.
The act or process of expressing the meaning of words, text, or speech in another language; a version or rendering produced in another language.
"The translation appeared in several national newspapers."
The sense “written or spoken version in another language” is especially common; “process” and figurative senses also occur frequently.
To express the meaning of words or speech in another language, or to interpret or explain something in different terms.
"The guide translation the instructions into practical advice for beginners."
This verbal use is less common than the verb “translate” and is especially frequent in technical, instructional, and figurative contexts.
The plural usually refers to separate versions of a text or to the products of translating multiple works.
"Her translations of poetry have been widely anthologized."
From Latin roots meaning “across” and “carried,” translation literally describes a carrying across—from one language into another.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does translation come from?
The word entered Middle English in the form “translacion,” ultimately derived from Latin “translationem,” a noun formed from “transferre,” meaning “to carry across.” The prefix “trans-” means “across,” while the related Latin participle “latus” means “carried.” English later developed “translate,” “translator,” and other forms from the same Latin verbal family.
Related word forms
How translation is actually used
The noun is common in both formal and general contexts and can refer either to the process or to a resulting version. “Translation” is also used figuratively for an interpretation or adaptation, as in “a translation of an abstract idea into practical terms.” As a verb, it is much less common than “translate” and is especially frequent in specialized or technical contexts.
Easily confused with translation
A translation conveys the meaning of a text in another language, whereas a transliteration represents its sounds or characters using the writing system of another language or script.