idiomatic

Idiomatic is an adjective relating to idioms or to the natural style of language as used by native speakers. In linguistics, idiomatic language includes fixed expressions whose meanings cannot be inferred from the individual words; such expressions are known as idioms, examples include kick the bucket or spill the beans. The term also describes phrasing that sounds natural and appropriate within a language community, rather than literal or overly formal translation.

In translation and language learning, idiomatic rendering aims to convey meaning in a way native speakers would recognize, even if the exact wording differs from the source. An idiomatic translation often replaces a culturally specific phrase with an equivalent expression in the target language to avoid awkwardness or misinterpretation.

The concept extends beyond language studies. In programming, for instance, idiomatic code follows the established conventions of a language, producing code that reads naturally to experienced practitioners.

Idioms vary in transparency. Some are opaque, with meanings not predictable from the parts, while others are semi- or fully compositional, where meaning is partly derived from the components. Idiomatic competence—knowing how to use and understand idioms—contributes to fluency and cross-cultural communication.

Historically, idiom and idiomatic derive from Greek roots meaning private or peculiar, reflecting that idiomatic language often has distinct, culturally specific usage patterns.