Translate vs. Traduction — What's the Difference?
By Urooj Arif & Fiza Rafique — Updated on April 26, 2024
"Translate" is a verb meaning to convert text or speech from one language to another, while "traduction" is a less common noun form, mainly used in French, referring to the result or process of translating.
Difference Between Translate and Traduction
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Key Differences
"Translate" is an action word, commonly used to describe the process of converting words, phrases, or texts from one language into another. This is essential in various fields such as literature, business, and diplomacy, facilitating communication across language barriers. In contrast, "traduction" is primarily a French term that translates to "translation" in English, used to refer to the act or the product of translating.
When used in English contexts, "translate" can also imply a transformation or interpretation of ideas into different forms, such as translating concepts into practice. On the other hand, "traduction" is specifically focused on the linguistic aspects and is seldom used in English except when discussing translation theory or in specific academic contexts.
The verb "translate" encompasses both the process and the skill involved in translation, highlighting the translator’s role in interpreting and conveying meanings accurately. Meanwhile, "traduction," when used in English, often appears in discussions related to the theory or study of translation, providing a more formal or scholarly connotation.
"Translate" can be applied metaphorically in various ways, such as translating emotions into art, which means converting feelings and experiences into a different, often creative, medium. Conversely, "traduction" is not typically used metaphorically and remains tightly linked to the literal translation of written or spoken text.
The widespread use of "translate" reflects its versatility and integral role in everyday communication, adapting easily to both literal and figurative uses. "Traduction," due to its specificity and limited use in English, does not share this broad applicability and is mainly confined to formal or academic discussions about translation.
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Comparison Chart
Art of Speech
Verb
Noun (primarily French)
Definition
To convert text or speech from one language to another
The act or result of translating
Usage Context
General, versatile, used in various contexts including metaphorical
Formal, academic, mostly used in French or translation studies
Example in Sentence
"She can translate the book into five languages."
"The traduction of ancient texts can be challenging."
Metaphorical Usage
Common (e.g., translating ideas into actions)
Rarely used metaphorically
Compare with Definitions
Translate
To change something into a different form or medium.
The novel was translated into a successful film.
Traduction
Used in academic contexts to refer to the theory of translating.
His thesis focuses on the nuances of traduction.
Translate
To move or transfer from one place or context to another.
His skills translated well to the new job.
Traduction
The process of translating text from one language to another.
The traduction of this work took months.
Translate
To render words or text from one language into another.
They hired someone to translate the documents into Spanish.
Traduction
Primarily a French term used in discussions about language.
La traduction de ce roman est excellente.
Translate
To explain or tell in simpler terms.
Could you translate the legal jargon into plain English?
Traduction
A specific translation of a text.
This traduction has several errors.
Translate
To convey or interpret meaning.
He translates his emotions into his paintings.
Traduction
Occasionally used to denote a specific interpretation.
The traduction of the historical document sparked debate.
Translate
To render in another language
Translated the Korean novel into German.
Traduction
(uncountable) The act of converting text from one language to another.
Translate
To express in different, often simpler words
Translated the technical jargon into ordinary language.
Traduction
(countable) A malign or defamatory statement.
Translate
To change from one form, function, or state to another; convert or transform
Translate ideas into reality.
Traduction
(uncountable) An act of defaming, maligning or slandering.
Translate
To express in another medium
Translated the short story into a movie.
Traduction
(uncountable) Act of passing on to one's future generations.
Translate
To transfer from one place or condition to another
"His remains were translated to San Juan de Puerto Rico where they still rest" (Samuel Eliot Morison).
Traduction
Transmission from one to another.
Traditional communication and traduction of truths.
Translate
To forward or retransmit (a telegraphic message).
Traduction
Translation from one language to another.
Translate
(Ecclesiastical) To transfer (a bishop) to another see.
Traduction
Derivation by descent; propagation.
If by traduction came thy mind,Our wonder is the less to findA soul so charming from a stock so good.
Translate
(Physics) To subject (a body) to translation.
Traduction
The act of transferring; conveyance; transportation.
Translate
(Biology) To subject (messenger RNA) to translation.
Traduction
Transition.
Translate
To make a translation.
Traduction
A process of reasoning in which each conclusion applies to just such an object as each of the premises applies to.
Translate
To work as a translator.
Translate
To admit of translation
His poetry translates well.
Translate
To be changed or transformed in effect. Often used with into or to
"Today's low inflation and steady growth in household income translate into more purchasing power" (Thomas G. Exter).
Translate
Senses relating to the change of information, etc., from one form to another.
Translate
(transitive) To change spoken words or written text (of a book, document, movie, etc.) from one language to another.
Hans translated my novel into Welsh.
Translate
(intransitive) To provide a translation of spoken words or written text in another language; to be, or be capable of being, rendered in another language.
Hans translated for us while we were in Marrakesh.
That idiom doesn’t really translate.
‘Dog’ translates as ‘chien’ in French.
Translate
(transitive) To express spoken words or written text in a different (often clearer or simpler) way in the same language; to paraphrase, to rephrase, to restate.
Translate
(transitive) To change (something) from one form or medium to another.
The director faithfully translated their experiences to film.
Translate
(intransitive) To change, or be capable of being changed, from one form or medium to another.
Excellent writing does not necessarily translate well into film.
His sales experience translated well into his new job as a fund-raiser.
Translate
To generate a chain of amino acids based on the sequence of codons in an mRNA molecule.
Translate
Senses relating to a change of position.
Translate
To move (something) from one place or position to another; to transfer.
Translate
To t=place in a trance, to cause to lose recollection or sense.
William was translated by the blow to the head he received, being unable to speak for the next few minutes.
Translate
(analysis) In Euclidean spaces: a set of points obtained by adding a given fixed vector to each point of a given set.
Translate
To bear, carry, or remove, from one place to another; to transfer; as, to translate a tree.
In the chapel of St. Catharine of Sienna, they show her head- the rest of her body being translated to Rome.
Translate
To remove, as a bishop, from one see to another.
Translate
To render into another language; to express the sense of in the words of another language; to interpret; hence, to explain or recapitulate in other words.
Translating into his own clear, pure, and flowing language, what he found in books well known to the world, but too bulky or too dry for boys and girls.
Translate
To change into another form; to transform.
Happy is your grace,That can translatethe stubbornness of fortuneInto so quiet and so sweet a style.
Translate
To cause to remove from one part of the body to another; as, to translate a disease.
Translate
To cause to lose senses or recollection; to entrance.
Translate
To make a translation; to be engaged in translation.
Translate
Restate (words) from one language into another language;
I have to translate when my in-laws from Austria visit the U.S.
Can you interpret the speech of the visiting dignitaries?
She rendered the French poem into English
He translates for the U.N.
Translate
Change from one form or medium into another;
Braque translated collage into oil
Translate
Make sense of a language;
She understands French
Can you read Greek?
Translate
Bring to a certain spiritual state
Translate
Change the position of (figures or bodies) in space without rotation
Translate
Be equivalent in effect;
The growth in income translates into greater purchasing power
Translate
Be translatable, or be translatable in a certain way;
Poetry often does not translate
Tolstoy's novels translate well into English
Translate
Physics: subject to movement in which every part of the body moves parallel to and the same distance as every other point on the body
Translate
Express, as in simple and less technical langauge;
Can you translate the instructions in this manual for a layman?
Is there a need to translate the psychiatrist's remarks?
Translate
Genetics: determine the amino-acid sequence of a protein during its synthesis by using information on the messenger RNA
Common Curiosities
Is traduction used in English?
While "traduction" can occasionally appear in English, it is rare and usually seen in academic or theoretical discussions on translation.
What is traduction?
"Traduction" is a French term that refers to the act or product of translating, mostly used within specific linguistic or academic contexts.
How do translate and traduction differ in use?
"Translate" is a versatile verb used widely in English, while "traduction" is a noun used mainly in French or specialized translation studies.
What does translate mean?
"Translate" means to convert language, text, or ideas from one form to another, particularly from one language to another.
What is an example of traduction in academic use?
"His paper discusses the challenges of traduction in multilingual legal systems."
Can translate be used as a noun?
No, "translate" is typically used as a verb. The noun form is "translation."
What are the synonyms for translate?
Synonyms for "translate" include convert, interpret, render, and transpose.
Can you give an example of using translate in a sentence?
"She will translate the lecture notes from German to English for her classmates."
Can traduction refer to something other than language?
Typically, "traduction" specifically refers to language translation and does not extend to other types of conversion.
Is there a metaphorical use for traduction like translate?
"Traduction" does not typically have metaphorical uses as "translate" does, being more narrowly defined around the translation of texts.
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Written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
