Meanings
nounfanslation (countable and uncountable, plural fanslations)
plural fanslations · alternative fanlation
- countableslanguncountableAn unofficial translation of the dialogue or text of a media product (such as a manga, television programme, or video game) from one language to another which is done by fans rather than by its producer.
This is the #1 reason I hate the fanslation.
2004 June 8, Saint Avenger, “Hey, remember that FF6 translation of Sky Render's?”, in alt.games.final-fantasy (Usenet)2 more examples
Question: Where does one obtain the English libretto? And is it the official version or a "fanslation"?
2000 February 16, Seth Christenfeld, “Kristina fran Duvemala is AWESOME!”, in rec.arts.theatre.musicals (Usenet)There are no others available in English as far as I know (well, I think there is a fanslation of Tales of Phantasia for the SNES).
2004 July 19, Paul Tomlin, “Tales of Destiny”, in uk.games.video.misc (Usenet)
Origin
Blend of fan + translation.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Chinese Mandarin 非職業翻譯 /非职业翻译
- 非職業翻譯 /非职业翻译 (fēi zhíyè fānyì)unofficial translation of a media product
Dutch niet-commerciële vertaling
- niet-commerciële vertalingunofficial translation of a media product
French traduction amateure
- traduction amateureunofficial translation of a media product
German nicht offizielle Übersetzung, (emulation) Nacheifererübersetzung
- nicht offizielle Übersetzungunofficial translation of a media product
- (emulation) Nacheifererübersetzungunofficial translation of a media product
Greek μη εμπορική μετάφραση
- μη εμπορική μετάφραση (mi emporikí metáfrasi)unofficial translation of a media product
Italian traduzione dilettante
- traduzione dilettanteunofficial translation of a media product
Korean 비영리적인 번역
- 비영리적인 번역 (biyeongnijeogin beonyeok)unofficial translation of a media product
Polish tłumaczenie amatorskie, tłumaczenie nieprofesjonalne
- tłumaczenie amatorskieunofficial translation of a media product
- tłumaczenie nieprofesjonalneunofficial translation of a media product
Portuguese tradução amadora
- tradução amadoraunofficial translation of a media product
Russian непрофессиональный перево́д
- непрофессиональный перево́д (neprofessionalʹnyj perevód)unofficial translation of a media product
Spanish traducción aficionada, (emulation) traducción emulatoria
- traducción aficionadaunofficial translation of a media product
- (emulation) traducción emulatoriaunofficial translation of a media product
Turkish amatör çeviri
- amatör çeviriunofficial translation of a media product
Cite this entry
APA
fanslation. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/fanslation
MLA
“fanslation.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/fanslation. Accessed November 2, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “fanslation,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/fanslation.
Source: fanslation on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.