Mistranslate: meaning, definitions and examples
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mistranslate
[ ˌmɪs.trænˈsleɪt ]
language translation
To mistranslate means to translate something incorrectly. This can often occur due to misunderstanding, ignorance of context, or nuances of the original language. Mistranslations can lead to confusion, miscommunication, or even legal issues in some cases.
Synonyms
erroneously translate, faulty translation, misconstrue, misinterpret.
Examples of usage
- The document was mistranslated, causing legal complications.
- He mistranslated the instructions, leading to a failed project.
- During the meeting, she mistranslated his comments from French to English.
- Mistranslating technical terms can result in serious errors.
- The subtitler mistranslated the movie dialogue, changing the meaning.
Translations
Translations of the word "mistranslate" in other languages:
🇵🇹 traduzir mal
🇮🇳 गलत अनुवाद
🇩🇪 falsch übersetzen
🇮🇩 salah terjemahan
🇺🇦 невірний переклад
🇵🇱 błędne tłumaczenie
🇯🇵 誤訳する
🇫🇷 mauvaise traduction
🇪🇸 traducción errónea
🇹🇷 yanlış çeviri
🇰🇷 잘못된 번역
🇸🇦 ترجمة خاطئة
🇨🇿 špatný překlad
🇸🇰 nesprávny preklad
🇨🇳 错误翻译
🇸🇮 napačen prevod
🇮🇸 ranglega þýðing
🇰🇿 қате аударма
🇬🇪 არასწორი თარგმანი
🇦🇿 yanlış tərcümə
🇲🇽 traducción incorrecta
Etymology
The word 'mistranslate' is formed by combining the prefix 'mis-', which comes from Old English 'mis-', meaning 'wrongly' or 'badly', with the root 'translate', which is derived from the Latin 'translatio', meaning 'to carry across'. The construction of 'mistranslate' reflects a linguistic tendency to create new words by adding prefixes to existing ones to signify negativity or incorrectness. The concept of mistranslation has been significant throughout history, particularly as trade, diplomacy, and international relations have flourished, leading to an increased necessity for language translation. Various cultures and languages have faced challenges in accurate translation due to differences in idioms, grammar, and cultural context. With the rise of globalization and technology, the importance of accurate translation has grown, and 'mistranslate' serves as a reminder of the pitfalls that can arise in the process.