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Unidiomatic: meaning, definitions and examples

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unidiomatic

 

[ ʌnɪˈdaɪəmatɪk ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

language usage

The term 'unidiomatic' refers to expressions that are not typical or natural in a language. These phrases might be grammatically correct but sound awkward or strange to native speakers. Unidiomatic language often interferes with effective communication, as it can confuse listeners or readers who expect conventional usage. Identifying unidiomatic phrases is essential for language learners to sound more fluent and more natural.

Synonyms

awkward, non-standard, unnatural.

Examples of usage

  • She used an unidiomatic expression that left everyone puzzled.
  • His unidiomatic speech revealed his status as a non-native speaker.
  • The translation was full of unidiomatic phrases.
  • Avoiding unidiomatic constructions can enhance clarity.

Translations

Translations of the word "unidiomatic" in other languages:

🇵🇹 não idiomático

🇮🇳 अविधात्मक

🇩🇪 nicht idiomatisch

🇮🇩 tidak idiomatik

🇺🇦 не ідіоматичний

🇵🇱 nieidiomatyczny

🇯🇵 非慣用的

🇫🇷 non idiomatique

🇪🇸 no idiomático

🇹🇷 idiomatik olmayan

🇰🇷 비관용적인

🇸🇦 غير اصطلاحية

🇨🇿 neidiomatický

🇸🇰 neidiomatický

🇨🇳 非习惯性的

🇸🇮 neidiomatičen

🇮🇸 ekki orðtakskennt

🇰🇿 идиомалық емес

🇬🇪 არიდიომატული

🇦🇿 idiomatik olmayan

🇲🇽 no idiomático

Etymology

The word 'unidiomatic' is formed by the prefix 'un-', which means 'not', and 'idiomatic', which derives from 'idiom'. The term 'idiom' itself comes from the Greek 'idiōma', meaning 'special feature', and refers to a phrase or expression whose meaning is not deducible from the individual words. Over time, 'idiomatic' has come to describe language that reflects the natural and conventional usage within a particular community. The addition of 'un-' to form 'unidiomatic' highlights the absence of those characteristics. This term is particularly useful in linguistic studies, language teaching, and translation, where the goal is to encourage communication that adheres to the typical forms and expressions of the language.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #40,607, 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.