literal translation
Verbatim language conversion
A literal translation renders text word-for-word from one language to another, preserving the original structure rather than adapting it to sound natural in the target language.
The result often sounds awkward or foreign: The literal translation of "comment allez-vous" is "how go you".
Contrasts with free or idiomatic translation, which prioritizes natural expression over precise correspondence.
Exactly as stated
- verbatimIn identical wording
- exactPerfectly correct, no deviation
- faithfulConsistently loyal and true
- directUndeviating or to guide
strict · close · unadapted · unaltered · unembellished · literalism · correspondence · equivalence
Language being translated from
- target languageLanguage being acquired
- calqueBorrowed phrase translated literally
- cognateWord sharing etymological origin
- glossShine or annotation
transliteration · denotation · syntax · morphology · lexicon · dictionary · interlinear · crib
Representing through imagery
- idiomaticCharacteristic of natural speech
- paraphraseRestatement in new words
- adaptationFitting to new conditions
- localizationAdapting for specific markets
dynamic equivalence · sense-for-sense · interpretive · liberal · loose · metaphorical · poetic license
word-for-word
Exactly as stated
direct · strict · close · unadapted · unaltered · unembellished · literalism · correspondence · equivalence · accuracy
source language
Language being translated from
- target languageLanguage being acquired
- calqueBorrowed phrase translated literally
- cognateWord sharing etymological origin
gloss · transliteration · denotation · syntax · morphology · lexicon · dictionary · interlinear · crib · pony
figurative
Representing through imagery
- idiomaticCharacteristic of natural speech
- paraphraseRestatement in new words
- adaptationFitting to new conditions
localization · dynamic equivalence · sense-for-sense · interpretive · liberal · loose · metaphorical · poetic license
- language transferinterference, interlanguage, calque, false friends
- languagelanguage, word, words, grammar, spelling
- translationinterpreting, interpreter, translators, interpreters, localization
- translation errorsfalse friends, word-for-word, garble, calque, false friend
- translation termsword-for-word, source text, source language, target language, localization
- Bible translationRSV, revision, Hebrew text, Greek text, Hebrew texts
literal translationfree translation
Non-literal language conversion
dynamic equivalence · paraphrase · localization · transcreation · cultural adaptation
translate, literature, translation, literal, literate, literally, translated, translator, translating