bab.la is a language portal for language lovers. With bab.la you can look for translations, learn languages with the help of language tests and help to build up the dictionary. You can make your own translation suggestions or verify the suggestions of other users.
bab.la depends on the knowledge of its users. Our goal is to build up the largest dictionary in the world - and everybody can help! Suggest your own translations or verify translations of other users and share your knowledge with others.
If you find inappropriate content, you can use our contact form. Additionally you can use the "report" button after each quiz. Important: We need precise information in order to properly address the problem, including a detailed description of where such content is located and what makes it objectionable.
We welcome your comments. Use our contact form and send us your feedback. Every suggestion is welcome!
Click on the register button at the top right corner of our home page to sign up. For the registration, you need a user name, an email address and a password. We will then send you a confirmation email. Your registration will be concluded with a click on the confirmation link.
Sometimes the sending of confirmation emails takes a little bit longer or the email simply lands in your junk folder. Therefore, please check your junk folder or spam filter. If you continue to experience problems, please contact us directly.
Prior to your first login you need to click on the confirmation link in your confirmation email. If this does not help, contact us here.
If you forgot your password, contact us here and we will send you a new password. Please, also check your junk folder and spam filter, in case the email with the new password does not reach you.
If you would like to change your email address, please contact us here.
When you are logged in, you can add, edit, or delete your profile information using the "edit" button on the left hand side.
When you are logged in, your photo appears on the left hand side. Simply click on the "upload" button directly under the photo to make any changes.
You need to enter a user name, an email address, and a password in order to register. Your email address will not be visible to other users. All other information about you is voluntary. Nevertheless, we kindly ask you to complete your profile so that other users can contact you and get to know you better.
bab.la's idea is based on users becoming acquainted with one another and exchanging their knowledge. Therefore, all personal data you enter is visible to other users. Your email address will never be visible to other users unless you put it in the contact field. You can limit access to your contact information to registered users. Use the "edit" function after your login and click on the appropriate checkbox.
You can change your language settings by clicking on the respective flag on the top right corner of the website. Please note: We have separated the language of the website from the dictionary and language quiz settings. For example, this allows you to choose the dictionary you want to be shown.
The search filter helps you to refine your search and find the correct translation more quickly. The search filter displays the different categories contained in the suggested translations. You can refine your search by clicking on the desired category. You will see your refinement details on the top of the search filter. If your desired category is unavailable, then this translation has not yet been entered in the dictionary.
Please use the input form at the end of the
When entering new translations please consider the following seven rules:
1.Do not enter any articles (der, die, das) for German nouns, please use the detail menu to select the gender. Example: "Buch" [Gender: neutral], not "das Buch"
2. Enter English verbs with a "to ". Example: "to play – spielen", not "play – spielen"
3. Enter German words in the new German spelling (if you want to enter the old spelling, select "old spelling” in the detail menu). Example: "Fluss" or "Fluß" [Style: old spelling]
4.Use the detail menu to enter subject labels, don't write them directly into the translation. Example: "square" [subject label: mathematics], not "square (maths)"
5. Use standardized abbreviations (jd., jds., jdm., jdn., etw., so., sb., sth.).
Example: "to call so.” not "to call someone”
6. Enter explanations in round parentheses () at the end of a translation
Example: Mineralstoffgemisch (Bau), nicht "Mineralstoffgemisch, für den Bau"
7. Enter one translation at a time. Do not use commas to separate meanings. Example: "glücklich – happy" and "glücklich – lucky", not "glücklich – happy, lucky"
Your entry will be posted into the database with the status "unverified".
We gladly accept your help in building the largest dictionary in the world by entering an entire word list! Please get in touch with Thomas. He will help you import the list without needing to enter the words one by one.
For quality reasons your suggestion needs ten votes from different users to reach the permanent status "verified” in our dictionary database.
Words that already exist in the dictionary can be edited. All new words given by users appear with the status "unverified" in the dictionary. These words can be verified by clicking on verify.
You can vote for every suggested translation thus helping the translation to reach its "verified" status. You do this by clicking on "verify" to the right of the word. If you have a better translation than the words in the list, you can enter your own alternative suggestion. Your suggestion will then appear on the list for the next user. Some suggestions do not belong in this dictionary because they already exist or because they are simply wrong. Use the delete option or suggest your own translation alternative.
The abbreviations stand for certain categories. In the legend (on the right hand side above the translation list) you can find explanations for all abbreviations.
If you do not know the answer to a question, simply click on "skip".
The back function has been disabled on purpose. This enables the users to take the test objectively without any additional influences on the test results. That way, we can guarantee that the average test results are accurate.
After finishing all quiz questions, you have the chance to rate the quiz and to leave a comment.
The quiz results are calculated as a percentage of the correct answers. Every answer is weighted equally.
Quiz results cannot currently be saved. We suggest you print out the results and retake the quiz at a later time.
At the end of a quiz you have the option of printing out your results including the correct answers.
You can find a direct link on every quiz starting page which leads directly to the quiz. Just copy the provided link under "Direct link" and insert it into the HTML code of your website.
Alternatively, you can also embed the quiz directly into your website. Use the provided code under "Embed quiz". Please note: The quiz has a width of 390 pixels. We suggest a width of 400 pixels on your own website. The quiz will not be displayed correctly when using a smaller width.