transliteration

American  

[trans-lit-uh-rey-shuhn, tranz-] / trænsˌlɪt əˈreɪ ʃən, trænz- /

noun

1. the act, process, or result of writing letters or words using the corresponding characters of another alphabet or writing system.

   If you are new to Jewish prayer, the complete transliterations in this prayer book will enable you to pronounce the Hebrew words and participate fully in services.

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Etymology

Origin of transliteration

transliterate ( def. ) + -ion ( def. )

Explanation

Transliteration is the process of transferring a word from the alphabet of one language to another. Transliteration helps people pronounce words and names in foreign languages. Unlike a translation, which tells you the meaning of a word that's written in another language, a transliteration only gives you an idea of how the word is pronounced, by putting it in a familiar alphabet. It changes the letters from the word's original alphabet to similar-sounding letters in a different one. In Hebrew, the Jewish winter holiday is חנוכה. Its English transliteration is Hanukkah or Chanukah.

Example Sentences

Transliteration was done according to the Project Gutenberg Greek How-To guidelines.

From An Essay on the Scriptural Doctrine of Immortality by Challis, James

Transliteration and translation accompany the reproduction in the original script.

From The Journal of Negro History, Volume 3, 1918 by Various

Transcriber's Note: Transliteration has been added to Greek text .

From The Creed of the Old South 1865-1915 by Gildersleeve, Basil L. (Basil Lanneau)

Transliteration of Oriental Alphabets adopted for the Translations of the Sacred Books of the East.

From The Vedanta-Sutras with the Commentary by Sankaracarya Sacred Books of the East, Volume 1 by Thibaut, George

Related Words

• adaptation
• explanation
• reading
• rendering
• rendition
• transcription
• version