More than translation: definitions, synonyms, context

What does the built-in dictionary show?

Three things a plain translation leaves out. Definitions, grouped by part of speech, so you can tell the noun from the verb from the adjective. Reverse translations next to each meaning, showing which words in the source language map back to it. And synonyms, presented as chips you can scan in a second.

The quick popup (Ctrl + E) keeps it compact: a preview of the first entries right under the translation, without leaving your page. Press Shift + E — or click the expand button on any popup — and the side panel opens with the full picture in dedicated Definitions and Synonyms tabs.

How do I look deeper into a word?

Click it. In the panel's Definitions and Synonyms tabs, every word, every reverse translation, and every synonym chip is a live link that re-translates in place. See "lightweight" in the entry and wonder how it differs? One click, and it becomes the new lookup — no retyping, no new tab, no search box.

That makes the dictionary something you can wander through: start at one word, follow a synonym, check its reverse translation, and end up three words deeper with a real feel for the territory. Every stop along the way lands in your translation history, so you can retrace the trail later.

When does dictionary data appear?

For single words and short phrases — whenever Google Translate, which powers Sonic Translate, returns dictionary data for them. Select "ligero" and you'll get the full entry; select a common two-word phrase and you'll often get one too.

Longer selections — sentences, paragraphs — translate normally, just without dictionary entries, because there is no single word to define. For that kind of reading, the plain selected-text translation or the bilingual display — original and translation stacked together — is the better tool.

Why does this beat a one-shot translator?

A bare translation tells you what a sentence says. The dictionary tells you how the word works: which parts of speech it plays, which alternatives exist, where the nuance sits. That's the difference between decoding a text and actually learning from it — one gets you through today's article, the other means you won't need to look the word up next week.

Frequently asked questions