traduit

Traduit is the past participle of the French verb traduire, meaning to translate. In modern French it functions in two main ways: as part of compound tenses of traduire (for example, il a traduit) and as an adjective meaning “translated” when it modifies a noun (for instance, un texte traduit). The masculine singular form is traduit; feminine singular is traduite, masculine plural traduits, and feminine plural traduites.

Etymology traces traduit to Latin traducere, meaning “to lead across,” passing through Old French as traduire. The term thus carries both the sense of rendering content from one language into another and, when used adjectivally, the result of that process.

Usage and meaning. As a verb participle, traduit marks completed translation in tenses formed with the auxiliary avoir (il a traduit, elle a traduit). In passive constructions, the verb is often used with être (le texte a été traduit). When used adjectivally, traduit describes text, documents, or statements that have undergone translation, as in un extrait traduit ou une édition traduite. In agreement with the noun it modifies, the participle takes the appropriate ending, as in les documents traduits.

Notes on agreement. With avoir as auxiliary, the past participle typically does not agree with the subject, but it does agree with a preceding direct object. For example, les textes qu’il a traduits are translations of masculine plural objects that precede the participle.

See also. Related terms include traduire (to translate), traduction (translation), traducteur (translator), and traduction automatique (machine translation).