mistranslate

Everyday

To translate words from one language into another wrongly, so the meaning changes. tree →

In the lessons

In language lessons, pupils see how a word can be mistranslated if you translate word by word, and how false friends trick people (French «librairie» is a bookshop, not a library). In news and history, mistranslated messages have caused confusion. Phrases: mistranslated sign, badly mistranslated.

Examples

• The sign was mistranslated and said «Please slip carefully». tree →
• If you mistranslate one word, the whole sentence can change. tree →
• The online tool mistranslated my French homework. tree →
• The menu was so mistranslated that «chicken» became «kitchen». tree →
• Translators check their work so they don't mistranslate anything. tree →
• Some famous mistakes came from mistranslated words. tree →
• Be careful: French «actuellement» means «currently», and it is often mistranslated as «actually». tree →

Note

Regular verb: mistranslated, mistranslating. Noun: mistranslation. «Mis-» = wrongly. Translation is from one language to another; interpreting is spoken translation.