Spanglish to English Translation: Avoiding Over-Translation

One of the most common mistakes when translating Spanglish into English is over-translation — turning a simple, natural sentence into something spanglish to english polished or complicated. Spanglish is casual by nature, and when you strip away its easygoing flow, you risk losing the voice and personality of the speaker.

What is Over-Translation?

Over-translation happens when a translator tries to replace every word, over-explain cultural terms, or upgrade informal phrases into formal English unnecessarily. This can make the final product sound stiff or even unrecognizable compared to the original.

For example:

Spanglish: “Voy a llamar a mi mami después del work.”

Over-Translated: “I intend to call my mother after I finish my work obligations.”

Natural Translation: “I’m going to call my mom after work.”

Why It Happens

Fear of Inaccuracy: Translators may think that simplifying a phrase risks losing meaning, so they add extra words.

Over-Formality: In some contexts (like academic writing), translators mistakenly think all language must sound formal.

Unnecessary Clarification: Explaining every cultural term instead of trusting context.

How o Avoid Over-Translation

Match the Register: If the original Spanglish is casual, keep it casual in English.

Trust the Reader’s Context Skills: You don’t need to explain every detail unless the meaning would otherwise be lost.

Stay Close to the Tone: Focus on the emotional and conversational style, not just the literal meaning.

Example Translations

Spanglish: “Vamos a chillear en la playa.”

Over-Translated: “We are going to relax in a leisurely manner at the beach.”

Natural: “We’re going to chill at the beach.”

Spanglish: “Ese tipo me cae mal.”

Over-Translated: “That individual gives me a negative personal impression.”

Natural: “I don’t like that guy.”

Spanglish: “Checkea si hay café.”

Over-Translated: “Please verify whether coffee is present.”

Natural: “Check if there’s coffee.”

Cultural Words and Over-Translation

Some words, like tamales, abuela, or chanclas, don’t need replacement or lengthy explanations in English if the audience can reasonably understand them. Over-translation would turn “Mi abuela hizo tamales” into “My grandmother prepared traditional Mesoamerican steamed corn dough with filling,” which completely kills the simplicity and warmth.

The Golden Rule

Ask yourself: “If this were originally said in English, how would it sound?” The answer is usually shorter, simpler, and more natural than an overly literal or academic rendering.

Final Thought

Over-translation is like adding too much seasoning to a dish — it overwhelms the original flavor. The best Spanglish-to-English translations are those that let the meaning and personality of the original shine through without unnecessary embellishment. The goal isn’t to “improve” the sentence; it’s to honor it exactly as it was meant to be heard.