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dialects

  • plural
    of dialect.
    dialect
    noun
    a variety of a language that is distinguished from other varieties of the same language by features of phonology, grammar, and vocabulary, and by its use by a group of speakers who are set off from others geographically or socially.

Example Sentences

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What began as an attempt to unify the Chinese community in Singapore has proven so effective that, some argue, it has driven dialects like Teochew, Hokkien, Cantonese and Hakka into an irreversible decline.

From BBC ● Jun. 25, 2026

Since the 1990s, the Speak Mandarin Campaign has shifted its focus to English-educated ethnic Chinese, and away from those who speak dialects.

From BBC ● Jun. 25, 2026

But Twain’s greatest discovery was his gloriously unshackled literary style, which was inspired by local dialects and liberated from European refinements.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 19, 2026

Ms. Fridland cites scholars who suggest its origins can be found in the nonrhotic West African dialects brought to the U.S. by enslaved people.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 26, 2026

Our words are different because the Philippines has so many dialects.

From "The House That Lou Built" by Mae Respicio