Finesentence mobile logo
Sign in Login / Register

Transliterate Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

✍️
Add to dictionary

transliterate

[trænzˈlɪtəreɪt ]

Definition

Context #1 | Verb

writing

To write or print (a letter or word) using the closest corresponding letters of a different alphabet or script.

Synonyms

convert, render, transcribe.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

arrow down
Word Description / Examples
transliterate

Use when you need to change letters from one writing system to another without changing their meaning.

  • The name 'Москва' is often transliterated as 'Moscow'.
  • When learning a new language, you might need to transliterate words to understand their pronunciation.
transcribe

Use when you need to write down or record spoken words or music into written form.

  • The secretary was hired to transcribe meeting notes.
  • Would you mind transcribing this interview so we can publish it?
render

Use when you want to describe the act of making something understandable or providing a specific interpretation.

  • The artist managed to render the sunset beautifully on canvas.
  • The translator did an excellent job rendering the text into English.
convert

Use when there is a need to change something into a different form, style, or function.

  • He had to convert the measurements from inches to centimeters.
  • I need to convert this video format from AVI to MP4.

Examples of usage

  • He transliterated his name from Cyrillic to Latin script.
  • Can you transliterate this word from Greek to English?

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Interesting Facts

Linguistics

  • Not all sounds in one language have direct equivalents in another, making transliteration a creative process.
  • There are standardized systems (like the ISO) to help ensure consistent transliteration across languages.
  • Transliteration differs from translation: the former focuses on sound while the latter focuses on meaning.

Cultural Significance

  • In many cultures, names are transliterated to preserve their pronunciation in different languages.
  • Some languages have specific rules that guide how to transliterate names and places to maintain cultural identity.
  • For example, the name 'Moscow' is transliterated from Russian as 'Moskva', preserving its phonetic sounds.

Technology

  • Modern software tools can automatically transliterate text, aiding communication in multilingual contexts.
  • Transliteration is vital in databases and computer programming to accommodate users who write in different scripts.
  • Many smartphones include transliteration features, allowing users to type in their native script using a standard keyboard.

Origin of 'transliterate'

Main points about word origin

  • The term comes from the Latin roots 'trans-', meaning 'across', and 'littera', meaning 'letter'.
  • It first appeared in English around the 1880s, gaining popularity with the rise of global communication.
  • Transliteration plays a key role in bridging different writing systems and has roots in early scholarly work.

The word 'transliterate' originated from the combination of 'trans-' meaning 'across' or 'beyond' and 'littera', the Latin word for 'letter'. It first appeared in the English language in the mid-19th century.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #40,121, this word is among the less frequently used terms in English. While interesting to know, it's not crucial for most English learners unless needed for specific purposes.