---
title: mistranslate — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «mistranslate» in the school dictionary: To translate words from one language into another wrongly, so the meaning changes. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mistranslate/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/) / [M](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/) / mistranslate

# mistranslate

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** meaning, you, whole sentence, online tool, chicken, Translators · **What happens:** translate, change, mistranslate, say, slip, become · **To what, where:** words, one language, sign, one word, French homework, menu · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«mistranslate» in the school dictionary: its meaning for a pupil and its 7 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [mistranslate in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/mistranslate.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To translate words from one language into another wrongly, so the meaning changes.

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mistranslate:m1:1
# text = To translate words from one language into another wrongly, so the meaning changes.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	translate	translate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	14	advcl	_	_
3	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	obj	_	_
4	from	from	ADP	IN	_	6	case	_	_
5	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	6	nummod	_	_
6	language	language	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obl	_	_
7	into	into	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	another	another	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	2	obl	_	_
9	wrongly	wrongly	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	14	punct	_	_
11	so	so	ADV	RB	_	14	advmod	_	_
12	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	13	det	_	_
13	meaning	meaning	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	14	nsubj	_	_
14	changes	change	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
15	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	14	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **translate** | to-infinitive | the meaning *not said here* | words |  | one language |  | into another *result*; wrongly *property* | vn turn-26.6.1 «NP V NP.patient PP.material PP.result»: agent=Agent word=Patient from language=Initial\_State into another=Result |
| 2 | **change** | present | the meaning |  |  |  |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The sign was mistranslated and said «Please slip carefully».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mistranslate:x1:1
# text = The sign was mistranslated and said «Please slip carefully».
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	sign	sign	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	mistranslated	mistranslate	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
7	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	Please	please	INTJ	UH	_	9	discourse	_	_
9	slip	slip	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	ccomp	_	_
10	carefully	carefully	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	9	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mistranslate** | past · passive |  | the sign |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | past |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 3 | **slip** *in a quote* | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | carefully *property* | vn calibratable\_cos-45.6.1-1 «NP.attribute V»: agent=Attribute |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
If you mistranslate one word, the whole sentence can change.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mistranslate:x2:1
# text = If you mistranslate one word, the whole sentence can change.
1	If	if	SCONJ	IN	_	3	mark	_	_
2	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	mistranslate	mistranslate	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	11	advcl	_	_
4	one	one	NUM	CD	NumForm=Word|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	word	word	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
7	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	whole	whole	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	sentence	sentence	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	11	nsubj	_	_
10	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	11	aux	_	_
11	change	change	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	11	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mistranslate** *a condition, not said to happen* | present | you | one word |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **change** | can | the whole sentence |  |  |  |  |  | vn dress-41.1.1-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Agent |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The online tool mistranslated my French homework.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mistranslate:x3:1
# text = The online tool mistranslated my French homework.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
2	online	online	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	tool	tool	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	mistranslated	mistranslate	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	my	my	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	7	nmod:poss	_	_
6	French	French	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	homework	homework	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mistranslate** | past | the online tool | my French homework |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The menu was so mistranslated that «chicken» became «kitchen».

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mistranslate:x4:1
# text = The menu was so mistranslated that «chicken» became «kitchen».
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	menu	menu	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux:pass	_	_
4	so	so	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	mistranslated	mistranslate	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
6	that	that	SCONJ	IN	_	10	mark	_	_
7	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	8	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	chicken	chicken	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	8	punct	_	_
10	became	become	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	advcl	_	_
11	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	kitchen	kitchen	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	10	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	12	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mistranslate** | past · passive |  | the menu |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 2 | **become** | past | chicken | kitchen |  |  |  |  | vn become-109.1-1-1 «NP V PP.attribute»: agent=Patient |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Translators check their work so they don't mistranslate anything.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mistranslate:x5:1
# text = Translators check their work so they don't mistranslate anything.
1	Translators	translator	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	nsubj	_	_
2	check	check	VERB	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	their	their	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	4	nmod:poss	_	_
4	work	work	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	so	so	SCONJ	IN	_	9	mark	_	_
6	they	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	9	nsubj	_	_
7	do	do	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
9	mistranslate	mistranslate	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	advcl	_	_
10	anything	anything	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	9	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **check** | present | Translators | Translators's work |  |  |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent work=Theme |
| 2 | **not** **mistranslate** | present · do-support | Translators *= translator* | anything |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **work** |  | Translators *= translator* |  |  |  |  |  | nom work «act intransitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Some famous mistakes came from mistranslated words.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mistranslate:x6:1
# text = Some famous mistakes came from mistranslated words.
1	Some	some	DET	DT	PronType=Ind	3	det	_	_
2	famous	famous	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	3	amod	_	_
3	mistakes	mistake	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	nsubj	_	_
4	came	come	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	from	from	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
6	mistranslated	mistranslate	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	7	amod	_	_
7	words	word	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **come** | past | some famous mistakes |  |  | mistranslated words |  |  | vn escape-51.1-1 «NP V PP.initial\_location»: agent=Theme from word=Initial\_Location |
| 2 | **mistranslate** | participle |  |  |  |  |  |  | tree rules |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Be careful: French «actuellement» means «currently», and it is often mistranslated as «actually».

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:mistranslate:x7:1
# text = Be careful: French «actuellement» means «currently», and it is often mistranslated as «actually».
1	Be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	cop	_	_
2	careful	careful	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	csubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	4	punct	_	_
4	French	French	PROPN	NNP	Number=Sing	8	obl	_	_
5	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	6	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	actuellement	actuellement	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	6	punct	_	_
8	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	currently	currently	ADV	RB	_	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	10	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
14	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	17	nsubj:pass	_	_
15	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	17	aux:pass	_	_
16	often	often	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	_
17	mistranslated	mistranslate	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	8	conj	_	_
18	as	as	SCONJ	IN	_	20	mark	_	_
19	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	20	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
20	actually	actually	ADV	RB	_	17	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
21	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	20	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | infinitive |  |  |  |  |  | careful *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **mean** | present | actuellement | French |  |  |  |  | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent currently=Topic |
| 3 | **mistranslate** | present · passive |  | actuellement |  |  |  | actually, often *property* | tree rules |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

<!-- pn -->
- ← previous: [mistletoe](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mistletoe/)
- next →: [mistranslation](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mistranslation/)
- ↑ back to [M in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/)