Discourse Meaning in English

word

US

UK

Definition

Formal spoken or written communication, especially on a serious topic. It also refers to discussion or debate in academic or intellectual contexts.

Usage & Nuances

Mostly formal or academic—rare in daily conversation. Used for structured talks, essays, or discussions about language ('political discourse', 'academic discourse'). Not the same as 'conversation' (casual chat) or 'speech' (public address).

• Spanish: discurso - conversación académica
• Portuguese (BR): discurso - discurso acadêmico
• Portuguese (PT): discurso - discurso académico
• Chinese (Simplified): 话语 - 演讲
• Chinese (Traditional): 話語 - 演講
• Hindi: भाषण - विमर्श (शैक्षिक)
• Arabic: خطاب - نقاش (أكاديمي)
• Bengali: বক্তব্য - আলোচনা
• Russian: дискурс - обсуждение (формальное)
• Japanese: 談話 - 討論 (フォーマル)
• Vietnamese: diễn ngôn - thảo luận (trang trọng)
• Korean: 담론 - 논의 (공식적)
• Turkish: söylem - tartışma (resmî)
• Urdu: مکالمہ (علمی یا رسمی)
• Indonesian: wacana - diskursus (formalis)

Example Sentences

The professor gave a long discourse on climate change.

basic

Political discourse can shape public opinion.

basic

Her essay analyzed the discourse in news articles.

basic

Online discourse these days gets heated very quickly.

natural

Academic discourse often uses complex language.

natural

There's a noticeable shift in public discourse about technology.

natural