Questions fréquentes (FAQ)
Welcome to lyricstranslate.com! This site is dedicated to song texts translation. Lyrics, translations, music videos, and all other content are added solely by site users.
Here you may:
- - Ask for a lyrics translation from any to any language.
- - Add a lyrics translation from any to any language.
- - Comment translations of other users and receive feedback on your translations - this will improve your knowledge and help improve others.
- - Join a communication on our lyrics forum, publish your articles and add video clips.
- - Find a good translator from any to any language.
Join us! It’s free. You’ll enjoy while helping others, communicating, and educating yourself. Cause songs and song meanings carry the essence of every culture.
For your convenience, a short list of Frequently Asked Questions follows.
- 1. How to
- 2. Translation matters
- 3. Phrases
- 4. What does it mean?
- 4.1 Points
- 4.2 Rôles
- 4.3 Médailles
- 4.4 Abonnement
- 4.5 Localization
- 4.6 Relecture
- 5. Modération
- 6. Tips and tricks
- 7. autre
Can't find the answer? Ask your question here: lyricstranslate.com forum (in public) or here: contact us form (in private)
1.1 How do I add a lyrics translation?
First of all, you should be logged in to add a translation. Also, when you want to add a translation, it’s very important to use lyrics and artist information which may already exist on the site.
First, use artist search to find a page related to a singer / band who sings the song you’d like to translate.
Can you see the artist you look for?
- If yes, then you should
- a) find song name on the artist’s page
- b) follow the link - you’ll see an “Add new translation” button on the song’s page
- If there’s no such song in a list, use an “Add new translation” button which is on the artist’s main page. In this case you’ll be asked to add original lyrics text along with its translation.
Can’t you see the artist you look for?
- If there’s no such artist in our database, you should
- a) use a top page menu: Menu -> Translations -> "Add new translation" button
- b) there fill in artist’s name and additional information about this artist (if you know any - it’ll be useful for others), lyrics text and your translation. After that, an artist’s page with lyrics and translation will be created automatically
You may also see: 2. Translation matters and 2.4 How do I use ‘add a translation / add a request’ forms?
1.2 How do I request a song translation?
First of all, you should be logged in to request a song translation. Then if you know for sure how an artist name and a song title for a song you’re interested in are spelled, follow these steps:
- a) First, use translation search by translations database. May be the translation you look for already exists here.
- b) Second, use request search by request database. May be the translation you look for is already requested by someone else. If that’s your case, follow the link and press ‘Subscribe’ on the page of this request. You’ll be notified by email when someone adds the translation.
- c) Third, if that’s not your case, use artist search by artist database
Have you found the artist who sings the song you’re interested in?
If yes, then find the title of your song on the artist’s page, follow the link, and use ‘Request new translation’ button on the song page. If there’s no such song in a song list, use ‘Request new translation’ button on the page. In this case you’ll be asked to paste song lyrics - to make a translator able to read and translate it.
If there’s no such artist, use a top page menu: Menu -> Requests -> "Add new request" button. Then you’ll be asked to add artist’s name and additional information about this artist (if you know any - it’ll be useful for others).
If you can’t go through all previous steps because you don’t know an artist name and / or a song title are correctly spelled, first use forum to identify it.
You may also see: 3. Request matters and 2.4 How do I use ‘add new translation / request a translation’ forms
1.3 How do I add a song text?
First of all, you should be logged in to add a song text. And when you want to add a song text, it’s very important to use lyrics and artist information which may already exist on the site.
First, use artist search to find page related to the singer / band who sings the song.
Can you see the artist you look for? If yes, then use "Add new song" button on his page.
Can’t you see the artist you look for? If there’s no such artist in our database, you should:
- a) use this submit lyrics form.
- b) there fill in artist’s name and additional information about this artist (if you know any - it’ll be useful for others), along with lyrics text. After that, an artist’s page with lyrics and translation will be created automatically and will be available through artist search form.
If you want to add song lyrics together with its translation(s), see 1.1 How do I add a lyrics translation?
1.4 How do I edit a translation, a song, or an artist?
First of all, you should be logged in to edit information on the site. Then there are two possible situations:
I. You want to edit information submitted by you - it’s a translation you posted, an artist or lyrics added by you. Then you should go to the content page - it may be a translation page or an artist page or a song text page and there you’ll see an ‘Edit’ button at the top of the page (just below the content header). Of course, you should be logged in to see this button - double check it.
II. You want to correct information submitted by someone else. Then you may take any (or all) of these steps:
- a) Write your corrections in page comments. Thus, a correct information becomes available to all visitors, including page author.
- b) Write a private message (PM) with corrections to the page author, so that he’ll be able to correct mistakes by himself.
- c) Write a private message (PM) with corrections to someone from a moderating team.
And please, give as much details as possible. I.e. don’t write messages like “That’s wrong!” but tell how is right.
1.5 How do I add videos and articles?
First of all, you should be logged in to add content.
If you want to add a video link to a song which already exists on LyricsTranslate.com (i.e. has its own page), see previous paragraph 1.4 How do I edit a song.
Also you may add just a video clip by itself - to do this you should use a top page menu: Menu -> My Account -> +Add content -> Video. Result will be available on videos page.
If you want to add an article, you should also use a top page menu: My Account -> +Add content -> Article. Result will be available at the article’s topic page, e.g. for arabic it’s arabic blogs.
1.6 How do I delete my account?
To delete your account, go to your profile page, click "Edit" and then "Delete account" button.
2.1 Duplicate translations
Please do not add duplicate translations if you'd like to change a couple of words. In this case it’s better to point to inaccuracies in comments, or contact a translator via PM service.
If you want to add your own unique translation, add a translation as a new one. See 1.1 How do I add a translation?
2.2 Can I add a translation done by someone else?
If you're going to add a translation done by someone else, please make sure that the author doesn’t mind about reprinting. Best practice is to put a link to a translation source and several first lines of a translation text, instead of copying a translation text in full. Please understand that your submission will be deleted in case of author’s complain.
2.3 What about Google Translate service and other machine translations?
Translations made via Google Translate or other machine translation services are not allowed on LyricsTranslate.com. Users who post such translations may be banned.
2.4 How do I use ‘add new translation / request a translation’ forms?
Add new translation form is here.
Request a translation request form is here.
When you’re adding a translation request or a translation itself, you should specify all related information - song artist, song title and lyrics, song original language and (desired) translation language.
Try to use information which already exists on LyricsTranslate.com. For this, use search before using these forms. It will make your task easier, lessening a quantity of information for you to fill in, and the site database tidier, by avoiding duplicate information.
If you can’t find artist or song in our database, then you’re welcome to use the form, and after that all required pages are created automatically, i.e. artist / song / translation / request pages.
To use these forms you should have javascript enabled in your browser. See also How to enable javascript in my browser.
3.1 What are Phrases for?
Phrases database is for storing idiomas, proverbs, slang, abbreviations on various languages and, of course, their meanings, translated (or not) to other languages. Some words or phrases used in song lyrics are difficult to understand, that’s why we added phrase databank to the site. Users can add new phrases, meanings (definitions) to existing phrases, request phrase for explanation, etc. See next Q’s for details.
3.2 How to add a new Phrase?
Please log in, to add a new phrase. There are two ways to add it:
- 1) Use main menu: Menu->Phrases->Add new phrase.
- 2) Use Phrases block in the top of the right column of every LT page.
You can add a new phrase to explain it, or to request an explanation for it. You can request explanation on any language.
3.3 How to add new explanation to existing phrase
To add a new explanation to existing phrase, you can use Add new explanation button on the phrase page.
To find phrase page, use phrase search in the right, or use advanced search.
3.4 How to request an explanation for the phrase
To request explanation for existing phrase, you can use Request explanation button on the phrase page. To find phrase page, use phrase search on the right column, or use advanced search. If you want to know meaning of the phrase, that does not exist in database, use request explanation form
4.1 Points
At this site works a mechanism of user points. It means that when you post some content, your user account earns points:
- 20 points for posting an article
- 10 points for posting a translation
- 1 point for posting a phrase
- 2 points for posting an explanation of a phrase
- 1 point for posting a video
- 1 point for posting a song, story, or adding an artist
The more points you get, the higher your user rank becomes, but please note that this mechanism is automatic and thus can consider only content quantity, not quality. It means that number of earned points shows only one’s activity.
Sometimes site administration can manually add points for some useful deeds, e.g. when a user translates this site interface to another language.
See also 4.2 Roles and 7.1 Translation ratings
4.2 Rôles
Here follows a list of user roles on LyricsTranslate.com:
- Novice (0-29 points)
- Junior member (30-119 points)
- Member (120-449 points)
- Senior member (450-899 points)
- Translation addict (900+ points)
A user role is automatically assigned to every registered user of LyricsTranslate.com according to number of points (see previous 4.1 Points) earned by this user. These points are given for the quantity of submitted by this user content. To esteem the quality of user-added translations, visit his profile - there you’ll see ratings of his translations.
If a user reaches "Translation addict" role, he can change his user role to any desired message. This custom role will be shown on any page of his translations in "About translator" block.
User can hide his user role from “About translator” block, shown at the top right on a translation page. To do this, use a top page menu: Menu -> Profile -> User Profile -> “Hide your role from "About translator" block” option.
See also 4.1 Points and 7.1 Translations ratings
4.3 Médailles
Badges are given by a site administration to translators who have achieved some outstanding results. Nominations may vary, e.g.:
- best translator (user owns lots of translations with high visitors ratings)
- best voter (user has left lots of adequate visitor ratings for other users’ translations)
- best video editor (user has added lots of video clips to own and others’ translations)
- etc.
As a rule, a badge for every nomination is given yearly to a narrow circle of translators.
Translator’s badges are shown in an “About translator” block. If you want to hide your badges from this block, use a top page menu: Menu -> User Profile -> “Hide your badges from "About translator" block” option.
4.4 Abonnement
Any registered user can subscribe to some content types, e.g. to a translation request, or to a translation page. You will receive notifications by e-mail in case of any changes on the page, including appearance of new comments.
You can manage your subscriptions via your user menu: Menu -> My account -> Subscriptions
There, in subscription settings, you can turn-on an auto-subscription to all your new content and adjust frequency of new notifications (momentarily / hourly / daily).
4.5 Localization
We'd like to make LyricsTranslate interface available in different languages. Presently we can do it only with help of our visitors - with your help. If you think you'd like to help - read this interface translation text and go on further :)
4.6 Relecture
Every translator can mark his translation for proofreading, so that other members can see easily where their help is wanted. "Request proofreading" button can be found on a translation page. Logged in users can search within marked translations.
5.1 I do not agree with moderator's actions. What can I do?
Ignoring the moderator’s warnings or public discussion of moderator’s actions may lead to temporary or permanent ban. If you do not agree with moderator’s actions, please contact the administrators
6.1 Use advanced search
Search form you see in a header of every page of LyricsTranslate.com uses Google search. It’s convenient for a general full-text search through all song texts, comments, forum posts etc., but has some restrictions (inconvenient display of result pages).
Try using advanced search because it allows very fine tuning of your search query.
- Search by lyrics translations
- Search by translation requests
- Search by artist / band
- Search by translator
7.1 Translations ratings
Every registered user can rate translations, added by other translators. Votes are numbers from 1 to 5, 1 is the lowest, 5 is the highest vote. If you leave vote lower than 5 you are required to leave a comment - to explain why in your opinion the translation isn’t perfect.
Voting is a powerful educational mechanism. With your votes and comments you help others to improve, sharing your knowledge and opinion. And thus the more detailed your comments are, the more useful they are for translators and all interested visitors.
For your convenience, here follows approximate rank meanings:
- 1 - terrible, just like machine translation (see 2.3 What about Google Translate service and other machine translations?). It’s that bad, that it shouldn’t be published on this site.
- 2 - very bad. It has some sense along with lots of syntax and grammatical errors.
- 3 - so-so. There are some errors, author should improve.
- 4 - good. May be not the very best possible, but the work that’s done deserves respect. It contains not many syntax errors and none (or almost none) grammatical errors.
- 5 - very good. Excellent translation, can’t see an error in it.
7.2 I can’t see the content I’ve added
There are two possible reasons:
- I) Caching. We actively use caching mechanism on our site to improve its performance and increase page loading speed. It may cause delays in a new / changed content publishing.
To check if that’s the case follow these steps:
- a) Log in, if you’re not logged in
- b) Press Ctrl+R (Cmd+R for Mac users) to reload the page where a content you look for should be published
- II) Content was deleted by moderators. You may see 5.1 I do not agree with moderator’s actions. What can I do?
7.3 Login / register procedure. My profile.
Almost every act on LyricsTranslate.com requires a registration. Unregistered visitors can only read. They can’t add translations or translation requests, can’t vote, can’t comment, can’t subscribe to content etc.
That’s why you should register immediately! :) It’s free and very easy, it won’t take more time than reading of these few lines. We ask only for your valid email, and we don’t share it with any third-party organizations and don’t use it for sending unwanted mail (spam).
It’s even more simple if you’ve already got a Facebook.com account. Then you may use a ‘connect via facebook’ option, and it authorizes you on our site in one click (if you’re already logged in in your FB account).
After registration you may, if you wish, personalize your profile with additional information. You can specify languages you’re interested in, upload your avatar picture, additional contact information etc. This information will be visible for all site visitors who will come to your profile page.
Need even more info? Then here follows detailed description of login / register procedure and editing your profile fields.
- When you click on "Login / Register" link, you see a login form. If you already have registered LyricsTranslate account, you just fill in there proper information and log in. Otherwise you may chose "Create new account" link, fill in desired login details, decipher CAPTCHA image - and button "Create new account" takes you to your profile page.
- At first, profile page is almost empty. If you follow "Edit" and "Edit user profile" links, you may set your avatar image, change login details and specify your contact information (ICQ, MSN, Skype etc.). And also there you can specify languages you’re interested in and proficiency - native, fluent-spoken and those you are learning (or would want to learn). When you set these languages, your profile can be found by people who are also interested in some of these languages: maybe someone is learning language which is native for you - and thus you can easily help someone to improve. Or maybe someone is learning same language with you and want to get an advice from you concerning education issues.
- All private information is kept hidden and never is shown openly. Please be careful and don’t use your email address to be your user name - because only in this case it becomes visible to potential spammers and spam-bots.