In [1]: from django.utils.translation import ugettext as _ In [2]: [_('red'),_('blue')] Out[2]: [u'red', u'blue'] In [3]: [_('red'),_('blue')] TypeError Traceback (most recent call last) /Users/jg026715/.virtualenvs/iqh/lib/python2.7/site-packages/django/core/management/commands/shell.pyc in <module>() ----> 1 [_('red'),_('blue')] TypeError: 'list' object is not callable In [4]: [_('red'),_('blue')] KeyboardInterrupt In [4]: from django.utils.translation import ugettext In [5]: [ugettext('red'),ugettext('blue')] Out[5]: [u'red', u'blue'] In [6]: [ugettext('red'),ugettext('blue')] Out[6]: [u'red', u'blue']