Vernacular
/vərˈnæk.jə.lər/noun
The everyday language spoken by ordinary people in a particular region or group.
Did you know?Vernacular comes from Latin vernāculus, meaning “native” or “domestic,” originally tied to home-born slaves and local-born things rather than any mystical secret language.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*wes-
“to dwell, stay, remain”
Latin
Latin
verna
“a home-born slave; someone born in the household”
Latin
Latin
vernāculus
“native, domestic, belonging to the home or household”
Late Latin
Latin
vernaculāris
“native, indigenous, of the home language”
Middle English
English
vernakuler / vernacular
“native language; ordinary, local speech”
Modern English
English
vernacular
“the everyday language of a region or group”