verb
translate
A2
'übersetzen' primarily means 'to translate' (render text or speech into another language). It is a regular weak verb taking haben (Perfekt: übersetzt). Non‑reflexive and not separable; no stem change. Use for written or spoken translation; imperative: Übersetze!/Übersetzt!/Übersetzen!. Also used for translating meaning, not only literal.
Examples
Die Studentin übersetzte den Text, obwohl sie nur wenig Zeit hatte.
The student translated the text even though she had very little time.
Ich habe den Satz übersetzt.
I translated the sentence.
Ich übersetze den Text.
I translate the text.
Details
Mnemonics
picture someone taking a paragraph and putting it 'über' (over) into a new language
sounds like 'über-set-zen' — imagine setting words over into another language
Notes
Commonly used for translating text. As an inseparable-prefixed verb (über-), the past participle is 'übersetzt' (no 'ge-'). There is also a separable variant (über|setzen) meaning 'to ferry across', which can take 'sein' as auxiliary.