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Meaning & use

vernacular

noun, adjective·Academic

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UK/vəˈnækjʊlə/
US/vɚˈnækjələr/

Meanings

  1. nounsingular

    The ordinary language people speak in daily life in a place, as opposed to a formal or learned one.

    Grammar: Usually the vernacular.

    Patterns

    • in the vernacular

    The sermon was given in the vernacular.

    He explained the law in plain vernacular.

    Medieval writers began to use the vernacular.

  2. nounsingular

    The special words and style used by a particular group or profession.

    Grammar: Often with a modifier: the legal vernacular.

    Patterns

    • the vernacular of something

    Learn the vernacular of the kitchen.

    Teenagers have their own online vernacular.

    Pilots speak in an aviation vernacular.

  3. adjectivebefore a noun

    Using ordinary local language or local building styles, rather than a formal or international one.

    Grammar: Before a noun: vernacular architecture.

    Patterns

    • vernacular architecture/language

    The village has charming vernacular architecture.

    The poem is written in vernacular English.

    Vernacular songs reflect local life.

Word forms

pluralvernaculars

Common combinations

local vernacular
The guide used the local vernacular.
in the vernacular
The book was translated into the vernacular.
vernacular architecture
She studies vernacular architecture.
common vernacular
It entered common vernacular.
vernacular language
The vernacular language differs from the official one.

Synonyms and how they differ

dialect
Dialect is a regional variety of a language, while vernacular is the everyday speech in contrast to formal language.
slang
Slang is very informal vocabulary, narrower than vernacular.
idiom
Idiom can mean a fixed expression or a characteristic style, more specific than vernacular.
jargon
Jargon is specialist vocabulary that outsiders find confusing, and is often criticized.

Opposites

literary language

Word family

vernacularly adverb
in everyday local language
vernacularize verb
to put into the local language

Commonly confused: vernacular or colloquial?

vernacular vs colloquial

Colloquial describes informal speech style; vernacular names the everyday language itself.

Practice

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