idiomatic

English

WOTD – 17 November 2009

Alternative forms

• idiomatick (obsolete)

Etymology

From Ancient Greek ἰδιωματικός (idiōmatikós, “related to an idiom”), from ἰδίωμα (idíōma, “idiom”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˌɪdi.əˈmætɪk/

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

Adjective

idiomatic (comparative more idiomatic, superlative most idiomatic)

1. Pertaining or conforming to idiom, the natural mode of expression of a language.

   The inclusion or omission of definite articles follows idiomatic norms in each language and depends on context and intent.

   In English, the only idiomatic position for a pronoun as the object of a phrasal verb is before the particle, whereas a noun as object can fall either before or after the particle; thus only he picked them up but either he picked his tools up or he picked up his tools.

2. Resembling or characteristic of an idiom.

   an idiomatic phrase that warns us against pollyannaism is counting one's chickens before they hatch

3. (music) Relating to parts or pieces which are written both within the natural physical limitations of the instrument and human body and, less so or less often, the styles of playing used on specific instruments.

Antonyms

• nonidiomatic
• unidiomatic

Related terms

• idiom
• idiomatical
• idiomatically
• idiomaticity
• idiomaticize
• idiomaticness

Translations

pertaining or conforming to the mode of expression characteristic of a language

• Catalan: idiomàtic
• Chinese:

  Mandarin: please add this translation if you can

• Czech: idiomatický (cs)
• Danish: idiomatisk (da)
• Finnish: idiomaattinen (fi)
• French: idiomatique (fr)
• German: idiomatisch (de)
• Greek: ιδιωματικός (el) (idiomatikós)
• Italian: idiomatico (it)
• Japanese: 熟語 (ja) (jukugo)
• Manx: dooghyssagh

• Norwegian: idiomatisk (no)
• Polish: idiomatyczny (pl)
• Portuguese: idiomático (pt)
• Romanian: idiomatic (ro)
• Russian: идиомати́ческий (ru) (idiomatíčeskij)
• Serbo-Croatian: idiomatski (sh), идио̀матскӣ m
• Slovak: idiomatický
• Spanish: idiomático
• Tagalog: kawikaanin
• Thai: please add this translation if you can
• Turkish: please add this translation if you can
• Welsh: idiomatig (cy), priodweddol

resembling or characteristic of an idiom

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 象成语

• Finnish: idiomaattinen (fi)
• Manx: corghlaragh, abbyrtagh
• Norwegian: idiomatisk (no)

• Polish: idiomowy (pl)
• Russian: идиомати́чный (ru) (idiomatíčnyj)
• Scottish Gaelic: gnàthasach
• Slovak: idiomatický
• Tagalog: kawikaanin

using many idioms

• Finnish: idiomaattinen (fi)
• Polish: idiomatyczny (pl)
• Russian: идиомати́чный (ru) (idiomatíčnyj)

• Scottish Gaelic: gnàthasach
• Slovak: idiomatický

parts or pieces of or styles of playing music

• Polish: idiomatyczny (pl)
• Slovak: idiomatický

Noun

idiomatic (plural idiomatics)

1. Synonym of idiom

References

• “idiomatic” in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• “idiomatic” in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.

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Romanian

Etymology

From French idiomatique

Adjective

idiomatic m or n (feminine singular idiomatică, masculine plural idiomatici, feminine and neuter plural idiomatice)

1. idiomatic

Declension

Declension of idiomatic

		singular			plural
		masculine	neuter	feminine	masculine	neuter	feminine
nominative/ accusative	indefinite	idiomatic		idiomatică	idiomatici	idiomatice
	definite	idiomaticul		idiomatica	idiomaticii	idiomaticele
genitive/ dative	indefinite	idiomatic		idiomatice	idiomatici	idiomatice
	definite	idiomaticului		idiomaticei	idiomaticilor	idiomaticelor