transliteration
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of transliteration
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.
Vocabulary lists containing transliteration
Words with 15 or More Letters, List 3
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Devils Like Us
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But the current Draco obsession stems from the transliteration of his surname, "Ma Er Fu", which contains the Chinese characters for "horse" and "good fortune" -- an auspicious omen for the year ahead.
From Barron's • Feb. 5, 2026
Even to native English speakers, the transliteration of familiar words into an alphabet with imperfectly matched consonants — lacking, for example, a precise “F” or “R” sound — can be confusing.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 3, 2025
The dog has the American name “Decoy” and a Japanese name, “Dekopin” or “Decopin” depending on the transliteration.
From Washington Times • Dec. 14, 2023
The croissant, he added, is called Boris Johnsonyuk, which he said was a Ukrainian transliteration of Mr. Johnson’s Instagram account name.
From New York Times • Jun. 13, 2022
Often, books will include a transliteration of how to pronounce the lyrics as well as a translation.
From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
