word-for-word translation
Exact linguistic conversion
A word-for-word translation renders each word of the source text into its equivalent in the target language, preserving the original order and structure.
The result often sounds awkward or unnatural because languages differ in grammar and idiom.
Contrasted with free translation, which prioritizes natural expression over literal correspondence: The word-for-word translation was technically accurate but read like gibberish.
- word by wordOne term at a time
- literal meaningExact, non-figurative interpretation
- syntaxRules for arranging words
- semanticsStudy of linguistic meaning
- idiomatic expressionSet phrase, figurative meaning
source text · lexicon · bilingual dictionary · pragmatics · morphology · calque · false friend · gloss · foreign language · idiom · language learning tools · homonymy · verbatim · target language · polysemy · trot · source language · sociolinguistics
- translationinterpreting, interpreter, interpreters, localization, target language
- interlinear texts
- dictionariesdictionary, dictionaries, definitions, definition, entries
- Old High Germanglosses, glossaries, baptismal vows, charms, religious texts
word-for-word translationfree translation
Non-literal language conversion
dynamic equivalence · paraphrase · loose translation · domestication · literary translation
word-for-word translationcultural adaptation
Adjusting to different customs
worded, wording, wordless, wordsmith, translate, translation, translations, translator, translators