diff --git a/.scripts/lang/en b/.scripts/lang/en
index 3b6a2f5..b650e69 100755
--- a/.scripts/lang/en
+++ b/.scripts/lang/en
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
 
-argos-translate --from-lang fr --to-lang en "$@"
+# fully expand arguments
+phrase=$@
+
+argos-translate --from-lang fr --to-lang en "$phrase"
diff --git a/.scripts/lang/fr b/.scripts/lang/fr
index 3d065b5..f7dda73 100755
--- a/.scripts/lang/fr
+++ b/.scripts/lang/fr
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
 
-argos-translate --from-lang en --to-lang fr "$@"
+# fully expand arguments
+phrase=$@
+
+argos-translate --from-lang en --to-lang fr "$phrase"