vernacular

[ ver-nak-yuh-ler, vuh-nak- ]

adjective

1. (of language) native to a place ( literary ).
2. expressed or written in the native language of a place, as literary works:

   a vernacular poem.

3. using such a language:

   a vernacular speaker.

4. of or relating to such a language.
5. using plain, everyday, ordinary language.
6. of, relating to, or characteristic of architectural vernacular.
7. noting or pertaining to the common name for a plant or animal.
8. Obsolete. (of a disease) endemic.

noun

1. the native speech or language of a place.
2. the language or vocabulary peculiar to a class or profession.
3. a vernacular word or expression.
4. the plain variety of language in everyday use by ordinary people.
5. the common name of an animal or plant as distinguished from its Latin scientific name.
6. a style of architecture exemplifying the commonest techniques, decorative features, and materials of a particular historical period, region, or group of people.
7. any medium or mode of expression that reflects popular taste or local styles.

vernacular

/ vəˈnækjʊlə /

noun

1. the vernacular
   the vernacular the commonly spoken language or dialect of a particular people or place
2. a local style of architecture, in which ordinary houses are built

   this architect has re-created a true English vernacular

adjective

1. relating to, using, or in the vernacular
2. designating or relating to the common name of an animal or plant
3. built in the local style of ordinary houses, rather than a grand architectural style

Derived Forms

• verˈnacularly, adverb

Other Words From

• ver·nacu·lar·ly adverb
• nonver·nacu·lar adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of vernacular¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; from Latin vernācul(us), “household, domestic, native” (apparently adjective use of vernāculus, diminutive of verna “slave born in the master's household”; further origin uncertain) + -ar ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of vernacular¹

C17: from Latin vernāculus belonging to a household slave, from verna household slave

Synonym Study

See language.

Example Sentences

A millennial who came to South Korea 10 years ago, she has adapted her accent and vernacular to sound like a local, including using the ubiquitous English loanwords that are never used in North Korea.

From Ozy

The concept in science is a bit different than the everyday vernacular.

From Singularity Hub 

Such wide-reaching adoption is possible because language models, the engines behind natural language processing, can be trained to learn a specific vernacular.

From MIT Technology Review

These companies have been in a four-year race to gather data in local languages, develop chatbots and voice recognition tools, and help businesses communicate with customers in their own vernacular.

From Quartz

Seeing the opportunity to cash in on TikTok’s audience, vernacular language social network platform ShareChat launched Moj, entertainment company Zee5 released HiPi, and music-streaming giant Gaana created HotShots.

From Quartz

And every word has a definition, even if the phrase is viewed as one way in the vernacular.

From The Daily Beast

It is not, as Hoeke claimed, “slang” pulled from American hip-hop vernacular and wittily included in her magazine.

From The Daily Beast

It was amusing, it was in my vernacular, and the atmosphere held great emotional resonance for me.

From The Daily Beast

For me, no friend represents this new vernacular of modern manhood more than David Black.

From The Daily Beast

Anytime boys, even girls, use femininity as a vernacular people are judged harshly.

From The Daily Beast

Acquinoshinee, or United People, the vernacular name of the Iroquois for their confederacy.

From Project Gutenberg

One of the maxims of Greek business life, translated into the American vernacular, is 'Put out the other fellow's eye.'

From Project Gutenberg

Sometimes we trod on "duck boards" as the Americans call them, or "bath mats" in the Britisher's vernacular, laid end to end.

From Project Gutenberg

There are two classes of these: those to whom it is vernacular, and those who learn it in addition to their own language.

From Project Gutenberg

Do you agree with the prediction that within a century English will be the vernacular of a quarter of the people of the world?

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• argot
• dialect
• idiom
• jargon
• lingo
• parlance
• patois
• slang