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vernacularthe language or dialect spoken by the ordinary people in a particular country or region

Part of speech: NOUN

Definition: the language or dialect spoken by the ordinary people in a particular country or region

Pronunciation (IPA): /vərˈnækjələr/

Example Sentences

  • The professor abandoned academic jargon and explained quantum physics in vernacular terms.
  • My grandmother's vernacular includes phrases that would make sailors blush.
  • The tourist struggled to understand the local vernacular at the market.

vernacular

NOUN

[/vərˈnækjələr/]

the language or dialect spoken by the ordinary people in a particular country or region

The old fisherman greets tourists in the local vernacular of his coastal village.
💡 Concept

The old fisherman greets tourists in the local vernacular of his coastal village.

Ver yaks to locals - that's vernacular talk!
🧠 Mnemonic

Ver yaks to locals - that's vernacular talk!

The vernacular creates a spectacular, circular tale!
🎵 Rhyme

The vernacular creates a spectacular, circular tale!

Got the picture? Now let's practice.

🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/vərˈnækjələr/
🇬🇧 UK/vəˈnækjʊlə/

🌳Etymology

Rootvernacul
Suffix--ar

Origin

From Latin 'vernaculus' meaning 'domestic' or 'native,' derived from 'verna' meaning 'slave born in one's house' or 'home-born.' The word originally referred to the language of common people as opposed to Latin used by the educated elite.

Breakdown

verna- (home-born, domestic) + -cul- (diminutive suffix) + -ar (adjective suffix) = vernacular

🎵Rhyme

spectacularcircularicular
spectacular
circular
icular

🔗Collocations

vernacular language
vernacular architecture
local vernacular
vernacular expression
speak in vernacular
vernacular literature

📝Examples

The professor abandoned academic jargon and explained quantum physics in vernacular terms.

😄 Fun example

My grandmother's vernacular includes phrases that would make sailors blush.

The tourist struggled to understand the local vernacular at the market.

😄 Fun example

In vernacular terms, the complicated recipe basically means 'throw everything in a pot and hope for the best.'

📚Related Words

Synonyms

colloquialinformaleverydaycommonpopular

Antonyms

formalacademicliterary

Related

dialectslangidiomcolloquialismjargon

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