tranz-LAYTS
/tɹænˈzleɪts/
translates is pronounced tranz-LAYTS (/tɹænˈzleɪts/). Translates is a third-person singular present tense verb meaning to convert or render something from one language to another. It can also mean to interpret or express the meaning of something in another form. In usage, it often appears as “translates,” “translating,” or in phrases like “it translates to.” The sense focuses on converting content from one linguistic system to another, preserving sense rather than word-for-word equivalence.
Translates is a third-person singular present tense verb meaning to convert or render something from one language to another. It can also mean to interpret or express the meaning of something in another form. In usage, it often appears as “translates,” “translating,” or in phrases like “it translates to.” The sense focuses on converting content from one linguistic system to another, preserving sense rather than word-for-word equivalence.
"The translator translates complex legal text into plain English."
"Her notes translates the author’s ideas into a more accessible version for students."
"What this graph translates to in practical terms is a shift in consumer behavior."
Pronounce it as /trænˈsleɪts/ in US and UK English, with primary stress on the second syllable -SLATES. The initial consonants are /t/ and /r/ in sequence, followed by the /æ/ as in “cat,” then /n/ linking into the stressed /ˈsleɪts/. The final /ts/ is a voiceless alveolar affricate. Mouth position: lips relaxed, tip of tongue near the alveolar ridge, a brief vowel before the strong schwa-like onset of the stressed syllable isn’t present; you’ll voice a clear /æ/ then glide into /sleɪts/. Audio reference: you can listen to native speakers pronouncing “translates” in standard dictionaries or YouGlish samples.
Two common errors: (1) Under-stressing the second syllable, saying /trænsˈlats/ or /trænsleɪts/ with weak emphasis on /sleɪts/. (2) Mispronouncing the /t/ at the end as a /d/ or as a soft stop, yielding /trænsˈleɪts/ but with an audible t-d blend. Correction tips: ensure primary stress on the second syllable by slightly raising intonation on /ˈsleɪts/, exaggerate a crisp /t/ at the end, and keep the final voiceless dental/alveolar stop crisp without voicing. Practice with minimal pairs to stabilize the /sleɪts/ cluster.
In US English, /trænˈsleɪts/ with a rhotic r and a clear /æ/ before /n/. UK English tends to maintain /trɑːn/ patterns depending on speaker, but in standard RP, you’ll hear /trænˈsleɪts/ with a shorter /æ/ and a crisper /t/. Australian tends to align with US but can show a slightly broader vowel in /æ/ and a more clipped final /ts/. Across all, the primary stress remains on /ˈsleɪts/, but vowel quality slightly shifts: US/UK uses a pure /eɪ/ diphthong, AU may exhibit a slightly more centralized or elongated /æ/ depending on speaker.
The difficulty centers on the consonant cluster at the end: the /ts/ is a voiceless alveolar affricate that can be mispronounced as /s/ or /t/ alone. Additionally, stress placement on the second syllable requires a slight vowel reduction before the stressed syllable if spoken quickly. The transition from the /n/ to /s/ in /ˈsleɪts/ demands precise timing to avoid syllabic slurring. Paying attention to final voicelessness and maintaining a clear /æ/ before the onset of /s/ helps stabilize accuracy.
A useful nuance is the crisp onset of the final syllable /sleɪts/, where the /t/ is asserted as a stop before the /s/. Practically, you should push the tip of the tongue to the alveolar ridge for a clean /t/ and then immediately move to the /s/ without voicing the /t/ longer. This creates a precise /t s/ sequence that distinguishes accurate pronunciation from a rounded /ts/ blend. IPA: trænˈsleɪts.
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Translate derives from the Latin word translatāre, meaning to carry across or transfer. In Classical Latin, trans- means across and latus means side or carrying. The term passed into Old French as translator or traduire, with the sense of carrying meaning across languages. By the 14th century, English adopted translate with the idea of turning or converting words from one language to another. The noun translation and the verb translate share the same roots, but “translates” as a present tense form appears as language use evolved into more explicit subject-verb agreement in Early Modern English and into contemporary usage. The evolution tracks from literal physical carrying across to transferring meaning, extending to metaphorical translations in non-linguistic contexts (ideas, data, symbols). First known English attestations can be found in religious and scholarly texts of the medieval period, with increased usage in the Renaissance as literacy expanded and print culture demanded cross-linguistic rendering.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "translates" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "translates"
-tes sounds
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