The amount of information depends on the word itself, but common words such as faire (to do) have several tabs including dozens of possible definitions, as well as synonyms, idiomatic expressions and even quotes containing the word. Larousse is a treasure trove of French learning, including dictionaries, an encyclopedia, recipes and more.įor translation purposes, although Larousse doesn’t have a translator per se, it does have a French dictionary and an English-French dictionary. The French dictionary (meaning both the words and the definitions are in French) contains particularly detailed entries. Now that you better understand some of the contextual issues surrounding translation, we’ll introduce some resources that’ll help you translate English to French more accurately and precisely. 9 Online Tools for Smooth English to French Translation In this case, tête does have a similarly large range of meaning, but do your research (using the tools below) to be sure. Don’t assume, however, that this French word covers all of the possible meanings of the English word. Thus, if you type “head” into an English-French translator, your first result will probably be tête. “Head” might also be used to talk about the top part of a river or even to describe what kind of screwdriver we need. But we might also refer to the “head” of a department or the “head” of the house.
Think of the English word “head.” The most obvious meaning is probably an anatomical term denoting the top part of a person’s or animal’s body.
Such word combinations may or may not translate directly to French.
Linguee english french professional#
Jargon: Does your translation require specialized jargon? Clearly, a document such as a legal contract or a medical chart would necessitate highly specific words (and would be best left to professional translators).Even in English, where we have one form, “you,” there’s quite a difference (hopefully, at least) in a text you sent your sister and an email you sent a colleague.Īn informal, familiar context calls for simpler language and perhaps even slang, whereas a formal context demands rigid adherence to grammatical norms and more precise word choice. informal French is more than a mere choice of pronouns, however. Recall that, in French, tu is the informal form for “you” and vous is the formal form.įormal vs. In other words, keep in mind how formal your source material is. Formality: Especially when translating to French, it’s important to employ the appropriate register.It’s essential to understand the context and ideas of a passage.īut what exactly makes up context? What specific, tangible factors should you focus your attention on when translating?
The art and science of translation is much more than substituting individual words. (Download) What to Look for When Translating for Context
Linguee english french pdf#
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