transliteration

[ trans-lit-uh-rey-shuhn, tranz- ]

noun

1. the act, process, or result of writing letters or words using the corresponding characters of another alphabet or writing system:

   If you are new to Jewish prayer, the complete transliterations in this prayer book will enable you to pronounce the Hebrew words and participate fully in services.

Word History and Origins

Origin of transliteration¹

transliterate ( def ) + -ion ( def )

Example Sentences

Some supported what they described as an expression of cultural confidence, while others criticized it as excessively nationalistic and linguistically eccentric, given that the usual transliteration of dragon in Mandarin is “long” with just one “o.”

From Seattle Times

The dog has the American name “Decoy” and a Japanese name, “Dekopin” or “Decopin” depending on the transliteration.

From Washington Times

Introduced by the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday after agreeing to a $700 million, 10-year deal, Ohtani revealed that the brown and white dog who joined him on television last month is named Dekopin or Decopin in Japanese, depending on the transliteration — but he suggests Americans call him Decoy.

From Seattle Times

People’s Daily, the Communist Party mouthpiece, published a commentary in November that said jokes had to be “moderate” and noted that stand-up as an art form was a foreign import; the Chinese name for stand-up, “tuo kou xiu,” is itself a transliteration from “talk show.”

From New York Times

“The meeting almost certainly concerned, at least in part, Prigozhin’s public accusations and resulting tension with Shoygu,” the document says, using an alternative transliteration of the minister’s name.

From New York Times

Related Words

• adaptation
• explanation
• reading
• rendering
• rendition
• transcription
• version