target language

American  

noun

1. the language into which a text is to be translated from another language.

2. a language, especially a foreign language, that one is in the process of learning.

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target language British  

noun

1. the language into which a text, document, etc, is translated

2. a language that is being or is to be learnt

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Etymology

Origin of target language

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

Your fictional conversation partner speaks to you in the target language, you’ll respond in that language, and then a native speaker will say the correct answer, which you’ll repeat a couple times after them.

From The Verge • Feb. 15, 2022

Many language learners will tell you that conversing with native speakers is an essential part of learning your target language.

From The Verge • Feb. 15, 2022

Usually, half the day is taught in English and half in the target language, e.g.,

From New York Times • Dec. 26, 2014

Then, the broader context might help your algorithm choose how to render the phrase in the target language.

From Slate • May 11, 2012

MT analyzes the text in the source language and automatically generates the corresponding text in the target language.

From The Internet and Languages [around the year 2000] by Lebert, Marie