Letters and spelling

Words that start with trans

This collection gathers everyday and academic words built from the Latin prefix trans-, which signals movement across, beyond, or through something. It works well for students studying prefixes, ESL learners expanding their vocabulary, and word-game players hunting for trans- words. Skim the list, notice the root word hiding after the prefix, and try building a sentence with a few new entries.

30 words
WordMeaningIn a sentenceSave
transportverbTo carry or move people or goods from one place to another.Trucks transport fresh produce from the farms to markets across the region.
translateverbTo express the meaning of words or text from one language in another language.She translated the French novel into English for a new generation of readers.
transformverbTo change completely in appearance, character, or function.The renovation transformed the old warehouse into a bright modern office.
transferverbTo move someone or something from one place, person, or system to another.Transfer the seedlings from their small pots to the garden bed.
transmitverbTo send or pass something, such as a signal, message, or disease, from one person or place to another.The satellite transmits weather data to stations around the world every hour.
transactionnounAn instance of buying, selling, or exchanging goods, services, or money.The bank flagged the transaction as unusual because of its large amount.
transparentadjectiveAllowing light to pass through so that objects on the other side can be seen clearly.The bakery's transparent display case let customers see every pastry inside.
transcriptnounA written or printed copy of spoken words, or an official record of a student's academic coursework and grades.The court reporter produced a full transcript of the witness's testimony.
transplantverbTo move a living organ, tissue, or plant from one place and establish it in another.Surgeons worked through the night to transplant the donated kidney into the patient.
transitionnounThe process of changing from one state, form, or stage to another.The transition from high school to college can feel overwhelming at first.
transmissionnounThe act of sending or passing something, such as a signal, disease, or information, from one point to another.The virus's rapid transmission between passengers alarmed health officials on the cruise ship.
transactverbTo carry out or conduct a piece of business, especially a financial deal.The two companies transacted their merger deal within a few weeks.
transatlanticadjectiveCrossing, spanning, or situated on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean.They booked a transatlantic flight from New York to London.
transcendverbTo go beyond the normal limits of something, or to rise above it.Great art can transcend language, moving people who share no common tongue.
transcribeverbTo write down or type spoken words exactly, or to convert something into a different written form.She transcribed the entire interview word for word before writing her article.
transfuseverbTo transfer blood or another fluid into a person's or animal's bloodstream, usually for medical treatment.Doctors decided to transfuse the accident victim with two units of donated blood.
transgressverbTo break a law, rule, or moral code, or to go beyond an accepted limit of behavior.The novel's hero transgresses social norms by marrying outside his own class.
transientadjectiveLasting only for a short time; passing quickly and not permanent.The pain was transient, fading completely within a few minutes.
transistornounA small electronic device used to amplify or switch electrical signals and current.Modern computer chips contain billions of tiny transistors packed onto a single wafer.
translucentadjectiveAllowing light to pass through while scattering it enough that objects on the other side are not clearly visible.The bathroom window used translucent glass to let in light while preserving privacy.
transmuteverbTo change something from one form, substance, or nature into another, especially completely.Alchemists once dreamed of finding a way to transmute lead into gold.
transpireverbTo happen or occur, often used when describing events that later become known or are revealed.No one outside the boardroom knew exactly what had transpired during the meeting.
transposeverbTo change the relative position or order of two or more things.The editor transposed the second and third paragraphs to improve the essay's flow.
transverseadjectiveSituated or lying across something, at right angles to its long axis.A transverse beam supports the bridge's main span and runs perpendicular to the road.
transnationaladjectiveExtending, operating, or having effects across national borders rather than within a single country.Transnational corporations often shift production to wherever labor costs are lowest.
transducernounA device that converts energy or a signal from one form into another, such as sound into an electrical current.A microphone is a transducer that turns sound waves into an electrical signal.
transfusionnounA medical procedure in which blood or a blood product is transferred into a patient's bloodstream.After losing so much blood in surgery, she needed an emergency transfusion.
translationnounA piece of writing or speech that has been converted from one language into another.The publisher commissioned a new translation of the ancient Greek epic.
transfigureverbTo transform someone or something into a more beautiful, exalted, or spiritually elevated form.The setting sun seemed to transfigure the old barn into something almost magical.
transcontinentaladjectiveCrossing or extending across an entire continent.The transcontinental railroad connected the eastern and western United States.

What the prefix trans- means

Trans- comes from Latin and means across, beyond, or through. Adding it to a root word usually creates a sense of movement or change from one state or place to another. Transport moves people across distance, transform changes one shape into another, and transparent lets light pass through. Recognizing this prefix helps learners guess the meaning of unfamiliar words and spot the shared idea connecting words that otherwise look very different.

Frequently asked questions

What does the prefix trans- mean?

It comes from Latin and means across, beyond, or through, so trans- words usually describe movement or change from one state or place to another.