# Cambridge University Press API: Translate word

> Translates a word between English and a language Cambridge supports. Returns the meanings, the translations and any paired examples.

Unofficial. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Cambridge University Press.

- Page: https://fous.com/methods/dictionary.cambridge.org/translate-word
- Method: `dictionary.cambridge.org/translate_word`, version 1
- Website: dictionary.cambridge.org
- Returns: word, language pair, page link, meanings with part of speech, guide, translations, examples
- Effect: read (it gets data and changes nothing)
- Sign-in: none needed
- Cost: 1 credit per completed run (1¢ with pay as you go); failed runs are free
- Verified: Nov 2, 2026

## Inputs

| Field | Type | Required | In the run below | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| `word` | string | yes | `"house"` | Word to translate, for example house. |
| `to_language` | string | yes | `"Spanish"` | Target language name, for example Spanish. |
| `from_language` | string | no |  | Source language name, for example French. Defaults to English. Default "English". |

## Output

From a run on Oct 23, 2026, shortened. Its input:

```json
{
  "word": "house",
  "to_language": "Spanish"
}
```

Its output:

```json
{
  "word": "house",
  "meanings": [
    {
      "examples": [
        {
          "original": "a detached / semi-detached house",
          "translated": "una casa unifamiliar, una casa adosada"
        },
        {
          "original": "to buy / rent a house",
          "translated": "comprar una casa, alquilar una casa"
        },
        {
          "original": "house prices",
          "translated": "los precios inmobiliarios"
        }
      ],
      "translations": [
        "casa"
      ],
      "english_guide": "a building that people , usually one family , live in",
      "part_of_speech": "noun"
    },
    {
      "examples": [
        {
          "original": "Try not to wake the whole house when you come in!",
          "translated": "Intenta no despertar a toda la casa cuando llegues."
        }
      ],
      "translations": [
        "casa"
      ],
      "english_guide": "all the people living in a house",
      "part_of_speech": "noun"
    },
    {
      "examples": [
        {
          "original": "the monkey / lion house at the zoo",
          "translated": "la jaula de los monos en el zoo, la jaula de los leones en el zoo"
        },
        {
          "original": "a hen house",
          "translated": "un gallinero"
        }
      ],
      "translations": [
        "recinto , cobertizo , jaula"
      ],
      "english_guide": "a building where animals are kept",
      "part_of_speech": "noun"
    }
  ],
  "page_link": "https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english-spanish/house",
  "to_language": "Spanish",
  "from_language": "English",
  "language_pair": "English–Spanish"
}
```

## Run it

From code, with a Fous API key in `FOUS_API_KEY`; the answer's `data` holds the output:

```bash
curl https://api.fous.com/v1/runs \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $FOUS_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"method":"dictionary.cambridge.org/translate_word","input":{"word":"house","to_language":"Spanish"}}'
```

From an AI agent connected to the Fous MCP server: its `run` with the same method and input. To connect one, give it `set up https://fous.com/SKILL.md`.

## Ask your agent

- How do I say the word house in Spanish, and what are the example sentences?
- Translate 'bank' from English into German with meanings and parts of speech
- What is the French word for weather and how is it used in sentences?
- I need the Japanese translation of 'river' along with usage examples from Cambridge
- Give me the meanings and translations of 'journey' from English to Italian

## Input schema

```json
{
  "type": "object",
  "required": [
    "word",
    "to_language"
  ],
  "properties": {
    "word": {
      "type": "string",
      "minLength": 1,
      "description": "Word to translate, for example house."
    },
    "to_language": {
      "type": "string",
      "description": "Target language name, for example Spanish."
    },
    "from_language": {
      "type": "string",
      "default": "English",
      "description": "Source language name, for example French. Defaults to English."
    }
  }
}
```

## Output schema

```json
{
  "type": "object",
  "required": [
    "word",
    "from_language",
    "to_language",
    "language_pair",
    "page_link",
    "meanings"
  ],
  "properties": {
    "word": {
      "type": "string"
    },
    "meanings": {
      "type": "array",
      "items": {
        "type": "object",
        "properties": {
          "examples": {
            "type": "array",
            "items": {
              "type": "object",
              "properties": {
                "original": {
                  "type": "string"
                },
                "translated": {
                  "type": "string"
                }
              }
            }
          },
          "translations": {
            "type": "array",
            "items": {
              "type": "string"
            }
          },
          "english_guide": {
            "type": "string"
          },
          "part_of_speech": {
            "type": "string"
          }
        }
      }
    },
    "page_link": {
      "type": "string"
    },
    "to_language": {
      "type": "string"
    },
    "from_language": {
      "type": "string"
    },
    "language_pair": {
      "type": "string"
    }
  }
}
```

## See more

- [Cambridge University Press API: Define word](https://fous.com/methods/dictionary.cambridge.org/define-word.md): Looks up a word or phrase on Cambridge Dictionary and returns its ordered meanings, example sentences, grammar labels and UK and US pronunciations.
- [WordReference API: Translate word](https://fous.com/methods/wordreference.com/translate-word.md): Translates a word or phrase between languages using WordReference, including usage notes, example sentences and compound forms when shown. Only language pairs listed by WordReference are available.
- [Dictionary.com API: Define word](https://fous.com/methods/dictionary.com/define-word.md): Looks up an English word on Dictionary.com and returns its pronunciation, audio link, numbered definitions per dialect with examples, word origin and first recorded use.
- [Merriam-Webster API: Define word](https://fous.com/methods/merriam-webster.com/define-word.md): Looks up a word or phrase in Merriam-Webster's dictionary and returns its pronunciation, definitions, examples and word history.
- [Google API: Translate text](https://fous.com/methods/translate.google.com/translate-text.md): Translates up to 5,000 characters on Google Translate, with the detected source language, Latin-letter pronunciation when shown, and dictionary alternatives for words or short phrases.
- [Dictionary.com API: Get synonyms](https://fous.com/methods/dictionary.com/get-synonyms.md): Gets a word's Thesaurus.com meanings in site order, with part of speech, short meaning, synonyms and antonyms ranked strongest, strong or weak.
- [Merriam-Webster API: Get Merriam-Webster Word of the Day](https://fous.com/methods/merriam-webster.com/get-word-of-the-day.md): Gets Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for today or a past archive date, with its meaning, example, pronunciation and background note. Dates without a published entry are unavailable.
- [Etymonline API: Get word origin](https://fous.com/methods/etymonline.com/get-word-origin.md): Looks up an English word on Etymonline and returns its origin entries, one per part of speech, with the first date mentioned and cross-referenced words.
- [All Cambridge University Press methods](https://fous.com/methods/cambridge.org.md)