translator
gb/tɹænzlˈeɪtɚ/ us/tɹænzlˈeɪtɚ/
B1
English
~ 10000
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
entity
1
Person who translates written texts
A person who changes written words from one language into another language, usually as a job.
Usage pattern:
[someone] works as a translator
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse "translator" and "interpreter". A translator usually works with written texts (books, articles, documents), while an interpreter usually works with spoken language (meetings, conferences, phone calls).
Synonyms
interpreter (Usually refers to someone who translates spoken language in real time, while a translator usually works with written texts.)
|
translator of texts (More explicit and sometimes used to stress that the person works with written material.)
Antonyms
author (An author creates original text, while a translator changes existing text into another language.)
Collocations
professional translator
|literary translator
|freelance translator
|sworn translator
|native translator
|bilingual translator
Themes
language
|work
|communication
|education
Examples
- She works as a freelance translator for several publishing houses.
- The book’s translator included notes to explain cultural references.
- We need a translator who can handle both legal and technical documents.
- The company hired a native Spanish translator to adapt their website for Latin America.
- As a literary translator, he specializes in contemporary Italian novels.
Learner examples
- My sister is a translator of English books.
- The translator changed the French story into Japanese.
- They paid a translator to check the contract.
- I want to be a professional translator in the future.
Noun
B1
entity
2
Software that translates languages
A computer program or website that changes text or speech from one language into another language.
Usage pattern:
use a translator to [do something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say "I used a translate" instead of "I used a translator" or "I used a translation app". "Translate" is a verb, while "translator" is a noun for the tool or the person.
Synonyms
translation app (Stresses that it is a mobile application used on a phone or tablet.)
|
machine translator (More technical; emphasizes that the translation is done automatically by a computer system.)
Antonyms
human translator (A person who translates, as opposed to an automated program or tool.)
Collocations
online translator
|machine translator
|AI translator
|automatic translator
|built-in translator
|translation tool
Themes
language
|technology
|communication
Examples
- I used an online translator to understand the comments on that Italian video.
- The browser’s built-in translator automatically converted the page into English.
- This AI translator can handle both text and real-time speech.
- Free translators are useful, but they often make mistakes with idioms.
- The company integrated a machine translator into their customer support chat.
Learner examples
- She opened a translator on her phone to read the message.
- You can use a free translator to check new words.
- The translator on this website is very fast.
- He spoke Japanese, and the translator changed his words into English.
Noun
technical
C1
entity
3
Device converting signals or formats
A technical device or system that changes signals or data from one type to another type so they can work together.
Usage pattern:
a translator between [two systems]
Synonyms
converter (A general technical term; may refer to any device that changes a signal or format, not only those called "translator".)
Antonyms
pass-through (Describes a device or connection that does not change a signal, in contrast to a translator that modifies it.)
Collocations
protocol translator
|address translator
|signal translator
|voltage translator
|format translator
Themes
technology
|science
Examples
- The network uses a protocol translator to connect legacy devices to the new system.
- An address translator maps private IP addresses to a single public address.
- A voltage translator is required when the two circuits operate at different logic levels.
- The system includes a signal translator between the sensor and the control unit.
- The format translator converts the data into a structure the database can read.
Learner examples
- The engineer added a signal translator to fix the problem.
- We used a voltage translator so the two boards could work together.
- This device is a translator between the old system and the new one.
- The address translator changes local addresses into public ones.
Grammar
Dictionary form
translator
IPA
GB/tɹænzlˈeɪtɚ/
US/tɹænzlˈeɪtɚ/
Syllables & stress
trans - lat - or (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (lat)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: translator
- Plural: translators
Word family
Forms
translators
noun
Core family
translate
verb B1
translation
noun A2
Related words
translatable
adjective
Negative and opposite forms
untranslatable
adjective
Advanced or less common
mistranslate
verb
mistranslation
noun
Expressions
AI translator
1/ˈeɪ ˈaɪ tɹænzlˈeɪtɚ/
fixed phrase
AI-based translation tool
A translator program that uses artificial intelligence to understand and change language.
Examples
- The new AI translator produces more natural sentences than older tools.
- They are testing an AI translator that can handle regional accents.
certified translator
1/sˈɚtəfˌaɪd tɹænzlˈeɪtɚ/
fixed phrase
formal
Officially approved translator
A translator who has official permission or a special certificate from a government or organization.
Examples
- The court requires a certified translator for all foreign documents.
- He is a certified translator for both English and German.
freelance translator
1/fɹˈilˌæns tɹænzlˈeɪtɚ/
fixed phrase
Self-employed translator
A translator who does not have one regular employer and works for many clients, usually from home.
Examples
- As a freelance translator, she can choose which projects to accept.
- Many freelance translators find work through online platforms.
human translator
1/hjˈumən tɹænzlˈeɪtɚ/
fixed phrase
Person (not machine) translator
A person who translates text or speech, not a computer program.
Examples
- For legal documents, it’s safer to use a human translator.
- The company uses a machine translator for drafts and a human translator for the final version.
literary translator
1/lˈɪtɚˌɛɹi tɹænzlˈeɪtɚ/
fixed phrase
Translator of books and poems
A translator whose main work is to translate novels, stories, poems, or other literature.
Examples
- The literary translator won a prize for her version of the novel.
- Being a literary translator requires a deep sense of style in both languages.
machine translator
1/məʃˈin tɹænzlˈeɪtɚ/
fixed phrase
technical
Automated translation system
A computer system that uses software to translate text or speech between languages without a person.
Examples
- Quality has improved a lot as machine translators use more advanced AI models.
- A machine translator can process huge amounts of text much faster than a human.
online translator
1/ˈɔnlˌaɪn tɹænzlˈeɪtɚ/
fixed phrase
Website or tool for translation
A website or internet tool that automatically changes text from one language into another.
Examples
- I pasted the paragraph into an online translator to get the general meaning.
- Many travelers rely on an online translator when reading foreign menus.
professional translator
1/pɹəfˈɛʃənəl tɹænzlˈeɪtɚ/
fixed phrase
Trained, paid translator
A person who has skills and training in translation and earns money by doing this work.
Examples
- We hired a professional translator to handle the medical reports.
- If your CV is important, ask a professional translator to check it.