roughly translated

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "roughly translated" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
For example, "The phrase 'Vivere est verus' roughly translates to 'to live is true'."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

Roughly translated, that's togetherwecanstraightenthingsout.

The New York Times

"Annisa," roughly translated, is Arabic for "woman".

The New Yorker

Exclamation points, meaning, roughly translated, ha!

The New York Times - Books

Roughly translated, it means lovable screw-up.

The New York Times

This roughly translated as "we wuz robbed".

The Guardian - Sport

"Terror" could be roughly translated a "horror" in English.

The New Yorker

Roughly translated, she is Obama's intermediary to the outside world.

The New York Times

Roughly translated, it means: Everything you see? That's not it.

The New York Times - Magazine

Thus roughly translated the banner read "Berlusconi voters are useless".

The Guardian - Sport

Roughly translated, these views are: "Hand him over".

The Guardian

The word "Serengeti" roughly translated means "endless plain".

The Guardian - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "roughly translated", ensure the context implies that a precise, word-for-word translation isn't crucial or possible. It's best suited for conveying the general sense or meaning of a phrase.

Common error

Avoid using "roughly translated" when a precise translation is available or necessary. Overusing the phrase can undermine your credibility if accuracy matters in the context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "roughly translated" functions as an adverbial modifier, clarifying that the translation provided is not exact but conveys the general meaning. Ludwig examples show it preceding the meaning or definition it modifies.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "roughly translated" is a versatile phrase used to indicate that a translation is not exact, but provides a general sense of meaning. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely accepted, appearing most frequently in News & Media contexts. While it's a useful phrase for conveying approximate meanings, be mindful not to use it when precision is required.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

loosely translated

Changes "roughly" to "loosely", indicating a less precise translation.

approximately translated

Replaces "roughly" with "approximately", suggesting a translation that's close but not exact.

translated in a general sense

Uses a more verbose phrase to convey the approximate nature of the translation.

interpreted in a broad sense

Focuses on interpretation rather than direct translation, implying a degree of subjectivity.

rendered somewhat accurately

Indicates a translation with potential inaccuracies, emphasizing the 'somewhat' accurate aspect.

paraphrased with some accuracy

Highlights paraphrasing, suggesting the original meaning is conveyed but not literally.

given a free translation

Specifies that the translation is not literal, allowing for more interpretive flexibility.

understood in its general meaning

Shifts focus to understanding the overall meaning rather than a precise translation.

best understood as

Suggests a primary or most useful interpretation, potentially diverging from a strict translation.

essentially means

Focuses on the core meaning, even if a literal translation is different or complex.

FAQs

How to use "roughly translated" in a sentence?

Use "roughly translated" to indicate an approximate meaning of a word, phrase, or text from another language. For example, "The term 'saudade' is "roughly translated" as 'nostalgia' or 'longing' in English."

What can I say instead of "roughly translated"?

You can use alternatives like "loosely translated", "approximately translated", or "interpreted as" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "roughly translated" or "literally translated"?

"Roughly translated" indicates an approximation, while "literally translated" means a word-for-word conversion. Use ""roughly translated"" when precision isn't the goal, and "literally translated" when it is.

What's the difference between "roughly translated" and "generally means"?

"Roughly translated" is used for language conversions, indicating an inexactness in the translation process. "Generally means" describes the commonly understood meaning of a term, not necessarily related to translation.