Meaning & use
interpreter
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Meanings
nouncountable
A person who translates spoken language from one language into another in real time.
Grammar: Countable; can be followed by 'of' or 'for' to specify the language or person.
Patterns
- interpreter for someone
- interpreter of a language
- work as an interpreter
The conference hired an interpreter to translate the speeches into French.
She works as an interpreter for the United Nations.
If you don't speak the local language, you can ask for an interpreter at the hospital.
nouncountablecomputing
A computer program that directly executes instructions written in a programming language without compiling them first.
Grammar: Countable; often used in technical contexts.
Patterns
- a Python interpreter
- run a script in the interpreter
The Python interpreter reads and executes the code line by line.
You need to install a JavaScript interpreter to run this script.
The interpreter will report an error if the syntax is wrong.
Word forms
| plural | interpreters |
|---|
Common combinations
- simultaneous interpreter
- Simultaneous interpreters must listen and speak at the same time.
- consecutive interpreter
- A consecutive interpreter waits for the speaker to pause before translating.
- court interpreter
- The court interpreter translated the witness's testimony.
- sign language interpreter
- A sign language interpreter helped the deaf student in class.
- interpreter services
- The hospital offers free interpreter services to patients.
Synonyms and how they differ
- translator
- A translator usually works with written texts and has time to revise; an interpreter works with spoken words in real time.
- linguist
- A linguist studies language as a subject; an interpreter actively converts speech between languages.
Word family
- interpret verb
- To explain or understand the meaning of something.
- interpretation noun
- An explanation or understanding of something.
- interpretive adjective
- Relating to explanation or understanding.
Commonly confused: interpreter or translator?
interpreter vs translator
A translator converts written text from one language to another; an interpreter does it with spoken language in real time.
Practice
The diplomat needed someone to translate the speech live, so she hired a(n) ___.
Choose one answer.
An interpreter translates spoken language in real time. A translator usually works with written texts, a linguist studies language, and an editor corrects texts.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “interpreter”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.