Litteral vs. Literal — Which is Correct Spelling?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on March 24, 2024
"Litteral" is a common misspelling. The correct spelling is "Literal," referring to the exact, true, and primary meaning of words without metaphor.
Table of Contents
Which is correct: Litteral or Literal
How to spell Literal?
Litteral
Incorrect Spelling
Literal
Correct Spelling
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Key Differences
Think of it as the opposite of "figurative," not "figurattive."
Remember, "little" literal only needs one "t."
"Literal" has its root in "literature," both with one "t."
Recall that "lit" in "literal" has only one "t."
Associate it with "literal translation" – translating word-for-word.
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How Do You Spell Literal Correctly?
Incorrect: His explanation was too litteral for the complex concept.
Correct: His explanation was too literal for the complex concept.
Incorrect: He gave a litteral interpretation of the phrase.
Correct: He gave a literal interpretation of the phrase.
Incorrect: They took the joke as a litteral threat.
Correct: They took the joke as a literal threat.
Incorrect: I was litteral when I said the house is a minute away.
Correct: I was literal when I said the house is a minute away.
Literal Definitions
Referring to the primary, exact meaning of words, not figurative or metaphorical.
He took her words at a literal sense, missing the joke.
Representing exact words of the original text; verbatim.
He gave a literal reading of the script.
True to fact; not exaggerated.
It was a literal miracle.
Lacking imagination; straightforward.
His interpretation was too literal.
Conforming or limited to the simplest, nonfigurative, or most obvious meaning of a word or words.
Pertaining to letters.
The document had a literal error.
Word for word; verbatim
A literal translation.
Avoiding exaggeration, metaphor, or embellishment; factual; prosaic
A literal description.
A literal mind.
Consisting of, using, or expressed by letters
Literal notation.
A letter or symbol that stands for itself as opposed to a feature, function, or entity associated with it in a programming language
$ can be a symbol that refers to the end of a line, but as a literal, it is a dollar sign.
Exactly as stated; read or understood without additional interpretation; according to the letter or verbal expression; real; not figurative or metaphorical, and etymonic rather than idiomatic.
The literal translation is "hands full of bananas" but it means "empty-handed".
Following the letter or exact words; not free; not taking liberties
A literal reading of the law would prohibit it, but that is clearly not the intent.
(theology) (broadly) That which generally assumes that the plainest reading of a given scripture 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)
A literal equation
(of a person) Unimaginative; matter-of-fact
(proscribed) Used non-literally as an intensifier; see literally for usage notes.
Telemarketers are the literal worst.
A misprint (or occasionally a scribal error) that affects a letter.
(programming) A value, as opposed to an identifier, written into the source code of a computer program.
(logic) A propositional variable or the negation of a propositional variable. Wp
According to the letter or verbal expression; real; not figurative or metaphorical; as, the literal meaning of a phrase.
It hath but one simple literal sense whose light the owls can not abide.
Following the letter or exact words; not free.
A middle course between the rigor of literal translations and the liberty of paraphrasts.
Consisting of, or expressed by, letters.
The literal notation of numbers was known to Europeans before the ciphers.
Giving a strict or literal construction; unimaginative; matter-of-fact; - applied to persons.
Literal meaning.
A mistake in printed matter resulting from mechanical failures of some kind
Being or reflecting the essential or genuine character of something;
A genuine dilemma
Without interpretation or embellishment;
A literal translation of the scene before him
Limited to the explicit meaning of a word or text;
A literal translation
Lacking stylistic embellishment;
Of the clearest kind; usually used for emphasis;
It's the literal truth
A matter of investment, pure and simple
(of a translation) corresponding word for word with the original;
Literal translation of the article
An awkward word-for-word translation
Literal Meaning in a Sentence
He's a literal giant among his peers, towering over everyone.
She has a tendency to interpret everything in a literal way.
In a literal sense, the word "incredible" means impossible to believe.
I was being literal when I said the test was easy.
The translation was too literal and lost the poetry of the original text.
Literal translations can sometimes lead to misunderstandings.
His description of the event was so literal that it felt like we were there.
She appreciated the literal depiction of the landscape in the painting.
The literal meaning of "cat" is a small domesticated carnivorous mammal.
They found themselves in a literal mess after the party.
He took the phrase "jump in the lake" in a literal way.
The literal interpretation of dreams often misses their symbolic value.
A literal reading of the law would suggest a different outcome.
He was looking for a literal escape, not just a mental one.
The story was not meant to be understood in a literal manner.
The movie's title is a literal description of its plot.
The instructions should be followed in their most literal sense.
The term "literally" is often used for emphasis rather than its literal meaning.
The literal cost of the project was higher than estimated.
Literal thinking can be a barrier to creativity.
A literal explosion of flavors is what makes this dish unique.
The impact was literal; the car hit the wall.
The engineer explained the mechanism in literal terms.
Literal Idioms & Phrases
Literal interpretation
Understanding words or phrases in their most basic sense.
His literal interpretation of the poem missed its deeper meanings.
Common Curiosities
What is the pronunciation of Literal?
It's pronounced as /ˈlɪt.ər.əl/.
What is the verb form of Literal?
There isn't a direct verb form of "literal." However, "literalize" is a verb that means to make something literal.
What is the root word of Literal?
The root word is the Latin "litteralis."
What is the singular form of Literal?
The singular form is "literal."
What is the plural form of Literal?
The adjective "literal" doesn't have a plural form. If referring to multiple instances of the noun form, it would be "literals."
Why is it called Literal?
Literal comes from the Latin word "litteralis," meaning "relating to letters."
Is Literal an abstract noun?
No, it is not.
Which vowel is used before Literal?
The vowel "a" is typically used before "literal," as in "a literal interpretation."
Which preposition is used with Literal?
"In" is commonly used, as in "in a literal sense."
Is Literal a vowel or consonant?
"Literal" is a word made up of both vowels and consonants.
Is the word Literal is imperative?
No, it's not.
Which conjunction is used with Literal?
Any conjunction can be used with "literal" depending on the context; there isn't one specific to the word.
Is Literal a countable noun?
When used as a noun, it can be countable as in "the literals of the programming language."
Is Literal a collective noun?
No, it's not.
Is the word Literal is Gerund?
No, it's not.
What is another term for Literal?
A synonym could be "verbatim."
Which determiner is used with Literal?
Any determiner can be used, such as "this," "that," "a," or "the," depending on the context.
Is Literal a noun or adjective?
"Literal" is primarily an adjective, but it can also be a noun when referring to a literal term or character.
Is Literal an adverb?
No, the adverb form is "literally."
Is Literal a negative or positive word?
It is neutral.
How many syllables are in Literal?
There are three syllables.
What part of speech is Literal?
"Literal" is primarily an adjective but can also be used as a noun.
What is the second form of Literal?
As an adjective, "literal" doesn't have verb forms like first, second, or third.
What is the third form of Literal?
See the above answer.
Is the Literal term a metaphor?
No, "literal" refers to the exact meaning of something, not a metaphorical one.
Is the word “Literal” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
It can function as a direct object, depending on the sentence.
How do we divide Literal into syllables?
Lit-er-al
What is a stressed syllable in Literal?
The first syllable, "Lit," is stressed.
What is the opposite of Literal?
The opposite is "figurative."
What is the first form of Literal?
"Literal" is its base form.
Which article is used with Literal?
Both "a" and "the" can be used with "literal," depending on the context.
How is Literal used in a sentence?
She took his words in a literal sense and missed the underlying humor.
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Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
