interpret

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interpret

/ɪnˈtɜː.pɹɪt/ UK
/ɪnˈtɝ.pɹɪt/ Canada, US
/ɪnˈtɜː.pɹɪt/ California
[ɛnˈtɝ.pɹɛt] California
/ɪnˈtɜː.pɹɪt/ Australia
/ənˈtøː.pɹət/ New Zealand
/ˈin.tɚ.pɹɛt/ Philippines
/ɪn.tɚˈpɹɛt/ Philippines

Where it comes from

From Middle English interpreten, from Old French enterpreter, (French interpréter), from Latin interpretor (“to explain, expound, interpret”), past participle interpretatus, from interpres (“an agent, broker, explainer, interpreter, negotiator”), from inter (“between”) + -pres, probably the root of pretium (“price”); -pres is probably connected with Ancient Greek φράζειν (phrázein, “to point out, show, explain, declare, speak”), from which φραδή (phradḗ, “understanding”), φράσις (phrásis, “speech”); see phrase.

verb interprets · interpreting · interpreted

To decode the meaning of a topic and then act, whether to continue researching the topic, follow through, act in opposition, or further the understanding through sharing an interpretation.
Similar: take, understand, construe
To explain or tell the meaning of; to translate orally into intelligible or familiar language or terms. applied especially to language, but also to dreams, signs, conduct, mysteries, etc. to interpret an Indian speech
To apprehend and represent by means of art; to show by illustrative representation. The actor interpreted the character of Hamlet with great skill.
intransitive To convey what a user of one language is saying or signing, in real time or shortly after that person has finished communicating, to a user of a different language. He interpreted at the meeting between the Chinese and French associates.
transitive To analyse or execute (a program) by reading the instructions as they are encountered, rather than compiling in advance.

Thesaurus

Closest in meaning: construe, represent, translate, read, render, understand, interpretation, interpretative, interpretive, translation, identify, analyze, understanding, comprehend, perceive, explain

verb

Translations

Every language

verb to explain or tell the meaning of

Español	explicar, exponer, interpretar
한국어	해석하다 haeseok-hada
日本語	解説する kaisetsu suru
हिन्दी	निर्वचन करना nirvacan karnā, अर्थ लगाना arth lagānā
Português	interpretar
Deutsch	interpretieren
Italiano	interpretare
Ελληνικά	ερμηνεύω erminévo
Română	interpreta
Русский	объясня́ть obʺjasnjátʹ, объясни́ть obʺjasnítʹ, толкова́ть tolkovátʹ, истолкова́ть istolkovátʹ, интерпрети́ровать interpretírovatʹ
Tiếng Việt	diễn giải
العربية	فَسَّرَ fassara, أَوَّلَ ʔawwala
עברית	דּוֹבֵב dovév

verb to apprehend and represent by means of art

Español	interpretar
日本語	演奏する ensō suru, 演出する enshutsu suru
Português	interpretar
Français	interpréter
Deutsch	interpretieren
Italiano	interpretare
Ελληνικά	ερμηνεύω erminévo
Română	interpreta
Русский	интерпрети́ровать interpretírovatʹ

verb to act as an interpreter

Español	interpretar
한국어	통역하다 tong'yeok-hada
日本語	通訳する tsūyaku suru
中文	翻譯 /翻译 fānyì, 傳譯 /传译 chuányì
Português	traduzir
Français	traduire, interpréter
Deutsch	dolmetschen, übersetzen
Italiano	interpretare
Ελληνικά	διερμηνεύω dierminévo
Română	traduce, interpreta
Русский	переводи́ть perevodítʹ, перевести́ perevestí
Tiếng Việt	dịch

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MLA

"interpret." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/interpret. Accessed 5 Nov. 2026.

APA

interpret. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/interpret

Chicago

"interpret." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 5, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/interpret.

BibTeX

@misc{interpret_2026,
  title = {interpret},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/interpret},
  urldate = {2026-11-05}
}