# WordReference API

> WordReference returns word translations, usage notes, and examples as a workflow and API.

WordReference (WR) translates words or phrases between available language pairs, with usage notes, examples, and compound forms when shown. The Translate word method needs a word or phrase and target language; source language is optional.

- Page: https://fous.com/workflows/wordreference
- Handle: `@wordreference`
- Category: [Education](https://fous.com/workflows/category/education)
- Source website: https://wordreference.com
- Last verified: Sep 30, 2026
- Fous is not affiliated with WordReference.

## Methods

### Translate word

Operation `translate_word`, version 1. 1 credit per call.

Translate 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.

**Input**

| Field | Type | Required | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| `word` | string | yes | `"get over"` | Word or phrase to translate, for example get over. |
| `to_language` | string | yes | `"Spanish"` | Language to translate into, for example Spanish. |
| `from_language` | string | no | `"Spanish"` | Language to translate from, for example English. |

**Input schema**

```json
{
  "type": "object",
  "required": [
    "word",
    "to_language"
  ],
  "properties": {
    "word": {
      "type": "string",
      "description": "Word or phrase to translate, for example get over.",
      "examples": [
        "get over",
        "apple",
        "casa"
      ]
    },
    "to_language": {
      "type": "string",
      "description": "Language to translate into, for example Spanish.",
      "examples": [
        "Spanish",
        "French",
        "Japanese"
      ]
    },
    "from_language": {
      "type": "string",
      "default": "English",
      "description": "Language to translate from, for example English.",
      "examples": [
        "Spanish"
      ]
    }
  },
  "additionalProperties": false,
  "examples": [
    {
      "word": "get over",
      "to_language": "Spanish"
    },
    {
      "word": "get over",
      "to_language": "French"
    },
    {
      "word": "apple",
      "to_language": "Japanese"
    }
  ]
}
```

**Output**

| Field | Type | Example | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `word` | string | `"get over"` |  |
| `page_link` | string | `"https://www.wordreference.com/enes/get%20over"` |  |
| `to_language` | string | `"Spanish"` |  |
| `from_language` | string | `"English"` |  |
| `compound_forms` | array |  |  |
| `compound_forms[].phrase` | string | `"get it over with"` |  |
| `compound_forms[].translation` | string | `"quitarse de encima, sacarse de encima"` |  |
| `principal_translations` | array |  |  |
| `principal_translations[].source_term` | string or null | `"get over [sth]"` |  |
| `principal_translations[].translation` | string or null | `"recuperarse de"` |  |
| `principal_translations[].meaning_note` | string or null | `"(recover from)"` |  |
| `principal_translations[].example_sentence` | string or null | `"I hope you get over your flu really quickly."` |  |
| `principal_translations[].example_translation` | string or null | `"Espero que te recuperes pronto de tu gripe."` |  |
| `principal_translations[].source_part_of_speech` | string or null | `"vtr phrasal insep"` |  |
| `principal_translations[].translation_part_of_speech` | string or null | `"v prnl + prep"` |  |
| `additional_translations` | array |  |  |
| `additional_translations[].source_term` | string or null | `"Get over!"` |  |
| `additional_translations[].translation` | string or null | `"¡No puede ser!"` |  |
| `additional_translations[].meaning_note` | string or null | `"UK, regional, slang (I don't believe you)"` |  |
| `additional_translations[].example_sentence` | string or null | `"You're telling me you're a millionaire? Get over!"` |  |
| `additional_translations[].example_translation` | string or null | `"¿Me estás diciendo que eres millonaria? ¡No puede ser!"` |  |
| `additional_translations[].source_part_of_speech` | string or null | `"interj"` |  |
| `additional_translations[].translation_part_of_speech` | string or null | `"loc interj"` |  |

**Example input**

```json
{
  "word": "get over",
  "to_language": "Spanish"
}
```

**Example output**

```json
{
  "word": "get over",
  "page_link": "https://www.wordreference.com/enes/get%20over",
  "to_language": "Spanish",
  "from_language": "English",
  "compound_forms": [
    {
      "phrase": "get it over with",
      "translation": "quitarse de encima, sacarse de encima"
    }
  ],
  "principal_translations": [
    {
      "source_term": "get over [sth]",
      "translation": "recuperarse de",
      "meaning_note": "(recover from)",
      "example_sentence": "I hope you get over your flu really quickly.",
      "example_translation": "Espero que te recuperes pronto de tu gripe.",
      "source_part_of_speech": "vtr phrasal insep",
      "translation_part_of_speech": "v prnl + prep"
    }
  ],
  "additional_translations": [
    {
      "source_term": "Get over!",
      "translation": "¡No puede ser!",
      "meaning_note": "UK, regional, slang (I don't believe you)",
      "example_sentence": "You're telling me you're a millionaire? Get over!",
      "example_translation": "¿Me estás diciendo que eres millonaria? ¡No puede ser!",
      "source_part_of_speech": "interj",
      "translation_part_of_speech": "loc interj"
    }
  ]
}
```

## Quick start

Call the API with a Fous API key (`FOUS_API_KEY`). To create one, turn on Developer mode in Fous Studio, then open Keys & connections → API keys (https://app.fous.com/keys).

```bash
# First set your key: export FOUS_API_KEY='YOUR_FOUS_API_KEY'
: "${FOUS_API_KEY:?Set FOUS_API_KEY before running this example}"

curl 'https://api.fous.com/v1/query' \
  --fail-with-body --silent --show-error --max-time 120 \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $FOUS_API_KEY" \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  --data-raw '{
  "api": "@wordreference",
  "visibility": "public",
  "operation": "translate_word",
  "version": 1,
  "input": {
    "word": "get over",
    "to_language": "Spanish"
  },
  "response": {
    "format": "json"
  }
}'
```

```python
# Save as fous.py and run with python3 fous.py. No packages needed.
# First set your key: export FOUS_API_KEY='YOUR_FOUS_API_KEY'
import json
import os
import urllib.error
import urllib.request

api_key = os.environ.get("FOUS_API_KEY")
if not api_key:
    raise RuntimeError("Set FOUS_API_KEY before running this example")

body = json.loads("{\n  \"api\": \"@wordreference\",\n  \"visibility\": \"public\",\n  \"operation\": \"translate_word\",\n  \"version\": 1,\n  \"input\": {\n    \"word\": \"get over\",\n    \"to_language\": \"Spanish\"\n  },\n  \"response\": {\n    \"format\": \"json\"\n  }\n}")
request = urllib.request.Request(
    "https://api.fous.com/v1/query",
    data=json.dumps(body).encode("utf-8"),
    headers={
        "Authorization": f"Bearer {api_key}",
        "Content-Type": "application/json",
    },
    method="POST",
)
try:
    with urllib.request.urlopen(request, timeout=120) as response:
        result = json.load(response)
except urllib.error.HTTPError as error:
    raise RuntimeError(f"HTTP {error.code}: {error.read().decode('utf-8', errors='replace')}") from error
if result.get("success") is False:
    raise RuntimeError(result.get("error", {}).get("message", "Request failed"))
print(json.dumps(result["data"]["output"], indent=2))
```

```typescript
// Save as fous.mts and run with npx tsx fous.mts.
// First set your key: export FOUS_API_KEY='YOUR_FOUS_API_KEY'
const apiKey = process.env.FOUS_API_KEY;
if (!apiKey) throw new Error("Set FOUS_API_KEY before running this example");

const response = await fetch("https://api.fous.com/v1/query", {
  method: "POST",
  headers: {
    "Authorization": `Bearer ${apiKey}`,
    "Content-Type": "application/json",
  },
  signal: AbortSignal.timeout(120_000),
  body: JSON.stringify({
  "api": "@wordreference",
  "visibility": "public",
  "operation": "translate_word",
  "version": 1,
  "input": {
    "word": "get over",
    "to_language": "Spanish"
  },
  "response": {
    "format": "json"
  }
}),
});
type ApiResult = { success: boolean; data?: { output: unknown }; error?: { message: string } };
const result: ApiResult = await response.json();
if (!response.ok || result.success === false) {
  throw new Error(result.error?.message ?? `HTTP ${response.status}`);
}
if (!result.data) throw new Error("Missing API response data");
console.log(result.data.output);
```

Or describe the data in plain language: send `{"api":"@wordreference","prompt":"Describe the data you need, with every detail"}` to the same URL. Fous fills in the input, runs the method that fits and returns only the fields you asked for; `data.route.calls[].request` is the exact call it made. Routing is free; the run costs the same.

## Use cases

- Compare translations across available language pairs
- Review example sentences and their translations
- Check usage notes for a word or phrase
- Explore compound forms shown for a translation

## FAQ

### Is Fous affiliated with WordReference?

No. Fous is not affiliated with WordReference. This workflow reads the public wordreference.com website and returns its data.

### How much does it cost?

Each run costs 1 credit. With pay-as-you-go, a credit costs 1¢; monthly plans cost less per credit.

### Do I need a WordReference account?

No. You only need a Fous account.

### How current is the data?

Fous gets the data from wordreference.com when you run it; repeating the same request within a day may return the saved result. Fous checks this workflow automatically; it last passed a check on Sep 30, 2026.

### How do I translate a word or phrase?

Use Translate word with the word or phrase and target language; source language is optional.

### Can I see example sentences and translations?

Yes. Translate word returns example sentences and their translations when shown.

### Does a translation include compound forms?

Translate word returns compound forms when shown.

## Related

- [Cambridge Dictionary API](https://fous.com/workflows/cambridge-dictionary.md): Cambridge Dictionary provides English definitions, examples, grammar labels, and available UK and US pronunciations, plus translations and paired examples for supported languages, reflecting details shown on its pages.
- [Wiktionary API](https://fous.com/workflows/wiktionary.md): A free, multilingual dictionary with word meanings and language information.
- [Merriam-Webster API](https://fous.com/workflows/merriam-webster.md): Merriam-Webster provides definitions, pronunciations, examples, word histories, synonyms, antonyms, and related words for publicly listed entries, plus Word of the Day entries for today or published archive dates.
- [Dictionary.com API](https://fous.com/workflows/dictionary-com.md): Dictionary.com provides definitions, pronunciations, audio, examples, and word origins, plus ranked synonyms and antonyms for public Thesaurus.com entries; some word details may be unavailable.
- [Etymonline API](https://fous.com/workflows/etymonline.md): Origins and histories of English words from the Online Etymology Dictionary.
- [RhymeZone API](https://fous.com/workflows/rhymezone.md): RhymeZone finds rhymes, similar-sounding words, and related words, including synonyms, opposites, descriptions, and associations; some results lack relevance scores or syllable and part-of-speech details.
- [Google Translate API](https://fous.com/workflows/google-translate.md): Translate text between languages, with pronunciation and dictionary alternatives when available.
- [DeepL API](https://fous.com/workflows/deepl.md): Translate text with DeepL.
- [All Education workflows](https://fous.com/workflows/category/education)