Interpret
Definition
Interpret is a verb that means to explain or understand the meaning of something, translate spoken words from one language to another, or present something in a particular way.
Parts of Speech
- Verb
Pronunciation
American English
- IPA Pronunciation: /ɪnˈtɜːr.prət/
- Respelling: in-TUR-prit
British English
- IPA Pronunciation: /ɪnˈtɜː.prɪt/
- Respelling: in-TUR-prit
Etymology
The word "interpret" originates from the Latin "interpretari," meaning "to explain" or "translate," derived from "interpres," meaning "mediator" or "translator." It entered Middle English in the 14th century through Old French.
Derivatives
- Interpretation (noun)
- Interpreter (noun)
- Interpretable (adjective)
- Misinterpret (verb)
- Reinterpret (verb)
Synonyms
- Explain
- Translate
- Clarify
Antonyms
- Misunderstand
- Confuse
- Obfuscate
Usage
The term "interpret" is widely used in contexts involving communication, analysis, and performance. For example, "She was asked to interpret the data," or "The actor interpreted the character in a unique way."
Related Terms
- Translation: The process of converting text or speech from one language to another.
- Explanation: The act of making something clear or understandable.
- Analysis: Detailed examination of elements or structure.
Detailed Definitions
Verb
- To explain the meaning of something: Refers to making sense of or clarifying information.
- Example: "The teacher helped the students interpret the poem."
- To translate spoken words from one language to another: Refers to the act of orally converting language for communication.
- Example: "He was hired to interpret for the foreign delegates."
- To present or represent something in a particular way: Refers to expressing a personal perspective or artistic rendition.
- Example: "The pianist interpreted the sonata with emotional depth."
interpret
To “interpret” means to explain or understand something’s meaning, like the people analyzing documents.
The teacher helped the students interpret the poem.
The pianist interpreted the sonata with emotional depth.
🇨🇳 Mandarin
- 解释 (jiěshì)
- IPA: /t͡ɕi̯e˥˩ ʂʐ̩˥˥/
- English respelling: jye-shr
- 理解 (lǐjiě)
- IPA: /li˨˩˦ t͡ɕi̯e˥˩/
- English respelling: li-jye
🇮🇳 Hindi
- समझाना (samjhānā)
- IPA: /səmʝɦaːnaː/
- English respelling: sum-jhaa-na
- व्याख्या करना (vyākhyā karanā)
- IPA: /vjaːkʰjaː kəɾənaː/
- English respelling: vya-khya ka-ra-na
🇪🇸 Spanish
- Interpretar
- IPA: /inteɾpɾeˈtaɾ/
- English respelling: in-ter-pre-tar
- Entender
- IPA: /enteɾˈdeɾ/
- English respelling: en-ter-der
🇫🇷 French
- Interpréter
- IPA: /ɛ̃tɛʁpʁete/
- English respelling: an-ter-pre-te
- Comprendre
- IPA: /kɔ̃pʁɑ̃dʁ/
- English respelling: kom-pran-dr
🇦🇪 Arabic (Modern Standard)
- تفسير (tafsīr)
- IPA: /tafˈsiːr/
- English respelling: taf-seer
- تأويل (ta'wīl)
- IPA: /taʔˈwiːl/
- English respelling: ta-weel
🇧🇩 Bengali
- ব্যাখ্যা করা (byākhyā kôra)
- IPA: /bʲakʰja kɔra/
- English respelling: bya-khya ko-ra
- অর্থ বোঝা (ortho bōjha)
- IPA: /ort̪ʰo bod͡ʒʱa/
- English respelling: or-tho bo-jha
🇷🇺 Russian
- Интерпретировать (interpretirovat')
- IPA: /ɪntʲɪrprʲɪtʲɪrɐˈvatʲ/
- English respelling: in-ter-pre-ti-ro-vat
- Толковать (tolkovat')
- IPA: /təlkɐˈvatʲ/
- English respelling: tol-ko-vat
🇵🇹 Portuguese
- Interpretar
- IPA: /ĩtɾɨpɾɨˈtaɾ/
- English respelling: in-tri-pri-tar
- Entender
- IPA: /ẽtẽˈdeɾ/
- English respelling: en-ten-der
🇮🇩 Indonesian
- Menafsirkan
- IPA: /mənafˈsirkan/
- English respelling: me-naf-sir-kan
- Memahami
- IPA: /məmaˈhami/
- English respelling: me-ma-ha-mi
🇩🇪 German
- Interpretieren
- IPA: /ɪntɐpʁeˈtiːʁən/
- English respelling: in-ter-pre-ti-ren
- Verstehen
- IPA: /fɛʁˈʃteːən/
- English respelling: fer-shtey-en
🇯🇵 Japanese
- 解釈する (kaishaku suru)
- IPA: /kaiɕaku suɾu/
- English respelling: kai-sha-ku su-ru
- 理解する (rikai suru)
- IPA: /ɾikai suɾu/
- English respelling: ri-kai su-ru
🇻🇳 Vietnamese
- Giải thích
- IPA: /jəːj˨˩˦ thiːk˧˥/
- English respelling: yey thick
-
- Hiểu
- IPA: /hiəw˧˧/
- English respelling: hiew
🇰🇷 Korean
- 해석하다 (haeseokhada)
- IPA: /hɛsʌkhada/
- English respelling: he-seok-ha-da
- 이해하다 (ihaehada)
- IPA: /ihaɪhada/
- English respelling: i-hae-ha-da
🇹🇷 Turkish
- Yorumlamak
- IPA: /joɾumlamak/
- English respelling: yor-um-la-mak
- Anlamak
- IPA: /anlamak/
- English respelling: an-la-mak
🇵🇰 Urdu
- تشریح کرنا (tashrīḥ karnā)
- IPA: /t̪əʃriːh kəɾnaː/
- English respelling: tash-reeh kar-na
- سمجھنا (samajhnā)
- IPA: /səməd͡ʒʱnaː/
- English respelling: sa-majh-na
