Verb

übersetzen

to translate

Kannst du diesen Satz übersetzen?

Can you translate this sentence?

Er übersetzt Bücher aus dem Französischen.

He translates books from French.

((sth.)) ((from sth.)) ((into sth.)) to translate (sth.) (from sth.) (into sth.) He translates a book from English into German.

Synonyms: dolmetschen (to interpret), übertragen (to transfer)

Comes from über- ('over', 'across') + setzen ('to set', 'to place'). It literally means 'to set over,' like setting words over from one language to another.

Picture 'setting' (setzen) words 'over' (über) a language barrier to remember its meaning.

This page is designed for learning support. Please use it as a learning reference, not as a formal reference.