A dialect is a form of a language that is spoken in a particular area.
In the fifties, many Italians spoke only local dialect.
They began to speak rapidly in dialect.
Synonyms: language, speech, tongue, jargon More Synonyms of dialect
dialect in British English
(ˈdaɪəˌlɛkt)
noun
a.
a form of a language spoken in a particular geographical area or by members of a particularsocial class or occupational group, distinguished by its vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation
b.
a form of a language that is considered inferior
the farmer spoke dialect and was despised by the landowners
c.
(as modifier)
a dialect word
Derived forms
dialectal (ˌdiaˈlectal)
adjective
Word origin
C16: from Latin dialectus, from Greek dialektos speech, dialect, discourse, from dialegesthai to converse, from legein to talk, speak
dialect in American English
(ˈdaɪəˌlɛkt)
noun
1.
the sum total of local characteristics of speech
2. Rare
the sum total of an individual's characteristics of speech; idiolect
3. Popularly
any form of speech considered as deviating from a real or imaginary standard speech
4. Linguistics
a.
a form or variety of a spoken language, including the standard form, peculiar to a region, community, social group, occupational group, etc.: in this sense, dialects are regarded as being, to some degree, mutually intelligible while languages are not mutually intelligible
b.
any language as a member of a group or family of languages
English is a West Germanic dialect
adjective
5.
of or in a dialect
dialect ballads
SYNONYMY NOTE: dialect, in this comparison, refers to a form of a language peculiar to a locality or groupand differing from the standard language in matters of pronunciation, syntax, etc.;, vernacular today commonly refers to the informal or colloquial variety of a language as distinguishedfrom the formal or literary variety; , cant1, in this connection, refers to the distinctive stock words and phrases used by aparticular sect, class, etc. [clergymen's cant]; jargon1 is used of the special vocabulary and idioms of a particular class, occupationalgroup, etc., esp. by one who is unfamiliar with these; , argot refers esp. to the secret jargon of thieves and tramps; , lingo is a humorous or mildly contemptuous term applied to any language, dialect, or jargonby one to whom it is unintelligible
Derived forms
dialectal (ˌdiaˈlectal)
adjective
dialectally (ˌdiaˈlectally)
adverb
Word origin
L dialectus < Gr dialektos, discourse, discussion, dialect < dialegesthai, to discourse, talk < dia, between (see dia-) + legein, to choose, talk (see logic)
Examples of 'dialect' in a sentence
dialect
He often makes use of dialect and terms local to his native Northamptonshire.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
I work with dialect coaches to get his accent right and physically I want him to look a certain way too.
The Sun (2016)
The empire embraced a variety of ethnic groups who spoke a variety of languages and dialects.
Christianity Today (2000)
The telephone map showed some overlap with a map of modern regional dialects.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
She addressed him in the local dialect.
Iain Gale Man of Honour (2007)
Lessons in local dialects are also available.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
But at the same time regional accents and dialects were disappearing, along with regional identities.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Thick dialect, foul language and miserable shenanigans are all present and correct.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
I notice that he had a dialect coach.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Such is the concern about local dialects disappearing in Britain that a campaign has been launched to save them.
The Sun (2009)
That was my dialect coach.
The Sun (2012)
Moreover, the view that certain dialects of standard languages are "inferior" forms of speech reflects class and ethnic biases.
Harris, Marvin Cultural Anthropology (1995)
A sense of regional pride persists and at home many people speak in dialects that are incomprehensible to other Italians.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
She added: 'I worked with a dialect coach and just tried my best.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
We've got to be careful we don't lose our regional dialects.
The Sun (2011)
Then, there are scores of regional dialects, encompassing numerous variations of the same language.
Butt, Gerald A Rock and a Hard Place (1994)
It is a democracy that is conducted in 15 languages and 844 dialects.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Is it a particular regional dialect, a social one, or a little of each?
Goshgarian, Gary Exploring language (6th edn) (1995)
Almost by definition this would require an efficient infrastructure of roads and navigation, and of course language and dialects that must have been mutually comprehensible.
Francis Pryor BRITAIN BC: Life In Britain and Ireland before the Romans (2003)
TWO brothers who are the last people to speak a Scots dialect are to be recorded to preserve it for future generations.
The Sun (2007)
He was fluent in Arabic and many dialects - an invaluable skill in his shadowy world of spies and spooks.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
And if the media are so powerful why have regional accents and dialects not disappeared in the wake of national radio and TV?
Collins, Richard Television - policy and culture (1990)
Things I've been practising with my dialect coach for the last three weeks?
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
I had a dialect coach on the set of the film and he advised me to look at myself naked in the mirror, to tame myself.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Quotations
Dialect words - those terrible marks of the beast to the truly genteelThomas HardyThe Mayor of Casterbridge
In other languages
dialect
British English: dialect /ˈdaɪəˌlɛkt/ NOUN
A dialect is a form of a language spoken in a particular area.
They began to speak rapidly in dialect.
American English: dialect
Arabic: لَهْجَة
Brazilian Portuguese: dialeto
Chinese: 方言
Croatian: narječje
Czech: nářečí
Danish: dialekt
Dutch: dialect
European Spanish: dialecto
Finnish: murre
French: dialecte
German: Dialekt
Greek: διάλεκτος
Italian: dialetto
Japanese: 方言
Korean: 방언
Norwegian: dialekt
Polish: dialekt
European Portuguese: dialeto
Romanian: dialect
Russian: диалект
Latin American Spanish: dialecto
Swedish: dialekt
Thai: ภาษาท้องถิ่น
Turkish: lehçe
Ukrainian: діалект
Vietnamese: tiếng địa phương
All related terms of 'dialect'
eye dialect
nonstandard respelling of words to suggest dialectal or informal pronunciation
dialect atlas
→ linguistic atlas
dialect coach
a person whose job is to train actors to speak in the authentic accent and manner of a particular area
dialect survey
a survey carried out in order to ascertain which dialect forms are used in which area
dialect geography
→ linguistic geography
Chinese translation of 'dialect'
dialect
(ˈdaɪəlɛkt)
n(c/u)
方言 (fāngyán) (种(種), zhǒng)
(noun)
Definition
a form of a language spoken in a particular geographical area
the number of Italians who speak only local dialect
Synonyms
language
the English language
speech
the way common letter clusters are pronounced in speech
tongue
They feel passionately about their native tongue.
jargon
full of the jargon and slang of self-improvement courses
idiom
I was irritated by his use of archaic idiom.
vernacular
To use the vernacular of the day, Peter was square.
brogue
lingo (informal)
I don't speak the lingo.
patois
In France patois was spoken in rural regions.
provincialism
localism
Quotation
Dialect words - those terrible marks of the beast to the truly genteel [Thomas Hardy – The Mayor of Casterbridge]
Additional synonyms
in the sense of idiom
Definition
the characteristic vocabulary or usage of a person or group
I was irritated by his use of archaic idiom.
Synonyms
language,
talk,
style,
usage,
jargon,
vernacular,
parlance,
mode of expression
in the sense of jargon
Definition
specialized language relating to a particular subject, profession, or group
full of the jargon and slang of self-improvement courses