B2adjective · rare

literal

literal · more literal · most literal

справжній, реальний, дійсний

буквальный, дословный, точный, буквенный

buchstäblich, wörtlich

Exactly as stated; read or understood without interpretation; according to the letter;…Exactly as stated; read or understood without interpretation; according to the letter; not figurative or metaphorical; following the letter or exact words; not taking liberties; etymonic rather than idiomatic.

ⓘ

/ˈlɪt(ə)ɹəl/

» He explained the literal meaning of the phrase.

Er erklärte die wörtliche Bedeutung des Satzes.

Він пояснив буквальне значення фрази.

Він пояснив буквальне значення речення.

Meaning

7 senses

Exactly as stated; read or understood without interpretation; according to the letter; not figurative or metaphorical; following the letter or exact words; not taking liberties; etymonic rather than idiomatic.
The literal translation of Spanish irse al otro barrio is "to go to the other neighbourhood" but it means "to die".
A literal reading of the law would prohibit it, but that is clearly not the intent.
wörtlich, buchstäblich, buchstäblich
буква́льныйbukválʹnyj, досло́вныйdoslóvnyj, то́чныйtóčnyj
Actual, real, physical.
(broadly)That which generally assumes that the plainest reading of a given text is correct but which allows for metaphor where context indicates it.
(specifically)Following the historical-grammatical method of biblical interpretation.
(uncommon)Consisting of, or expressed by, letters (of an alphabet); using literation.
a literal equation
бу́квенныйbúkvennyj
Unimaginative; matter-of-fact; literal-minded.
(proscribed)Used nonliterally as an intensifier. See literally for usage notes.
Telemarketers are the literal worst.

More definitions

without interpretation or embellishment
limited to the explicit meaning of a word or text
avoiding embellishment or exaggeration (used for emphasis)
being or reflecting the essential or genuine character of something

Examples

49 sentences

He explained the literal meaning of the phrase.
Він пояснив буквальне значення фрази. — Walentinio
deEr erklärte die wörtliche Bedeutung des Satzes. — Zaghawa
CC BY 2.0 FR · Tatoeba · CK · B2Open on Tatoeba Report a problem
He explained the literal meaning of the sentences.
Він пояснив буквальний смисл речень. — aandrusiak
ruОн объяснил буквальное значение предложений. — Wezel
deEr erklärte die wortwörtliche Bedeutung der Sätze. — Yorwba
CC BY 2.0 FR · Tatoeba · CK · B2Open on Tatoeba Report a problem
You can add a literal translation.
ruВы можете добавить буквальный перевод. — al_ex_an_der
deSie können eine wörtliche Übersetzung hinzufügen. — al_ex_an_der
CC BY 2.0 FR · Tatoeba · Eldad · B2Open on Tatoeba Report a problem
They can add a literal translation.
ruОни могут добавить буквальный перевод. — marafon
deSie können eine wörtliche Übersetzung hinzufügen. — al_ex_an_der
CC BY 2.0 FR · Tatoeba · AlanF_US · B2Open on Tatoeba Report a problem
Sometimes literal translations are perfectly apt.
CC0 · Tatoeba · shekitten · C1Open on Tatoeba Report a problem

Translations

7 languages

Русский

By meaning 3

exactly as stated; read or understood without interpretation:

following the letter or exact words, not taking liberties:

consisting of, or expressed by, letters:

Deutsch

By meaning 1

exactly as stated; read or understood without interpretation:

Origin

From Middle English literal, from Old French literal, from Late Latin litteralis or litera

From Middle English literal, from Old French literal, from Late Latin litteralis or literalis (“of or pertaining to letters or to writing”), from Latin littera or litera (“a letter”). See letter.

Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source