verb · 8 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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Received-Pronunciation:/ˈɹəʊ.mə.naɪz/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Canada, General-American:/ˈɹoʊ.məˌnaɪz/
1
verb
Meaning 1
To put letters or words written in another writing system into the Latin (Roman) alphabet.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Examples
The author romanizes Chinese names using the Wade–Giles system rather than the Pinyin system.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: Latinize, transliterate
Antonyms: none provided
2
verb
Meaning 2
To bring under the authority or influence of Rome.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: capitalized, historical, transitive, usually
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
verb
Meaning 3
To make or become Roman in character or style.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: ambitransitive, capitalized, usually
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
verb
Meaning 4
To make or become Roman Catholic in religion (by conversion), character or style.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: ambitransitive, capitalized, usually
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: Latinize
Antonyms: none provided
5
verb
Meaning 5
To fill with Latin words or idioms.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: Latinize
Antonyms: none provided
6
verb
Meaning 6
Alternative letter-case form of romanize.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: alt-of
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
verb
Meaning 7
To Romanianize.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
8
verb
Meaning 8
write in the Latin alphabet
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
many shops in Japan now carry neon signs with Romanized names
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: Romanise, Latinize, Latinise
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: transliterate, transcribe
History
Etymology
Etymology tree English Roman Proto-Indo-European *-id- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti Proto-Hellenic *-íďďō Ancient Greek -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō)bor. Late Latin -izōder. Middle French -iserbor. Middle English -isen English -ize English romanize From Roman + -ize.
From Roman(ian) + -ize.
Across languages
Translations
42 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Arabic:
رَوْمَنَ
(rawmana)
— to put letters or words into the Latin alphabet
Arabic:
نَقْحَرَ
(naqḥara)
— to put letters or words into the Latin alphabet
Arabic:
كَرْشَنَ
(karšana)
— to put letters or words into the Latin alphabet
Bulgarian:
латинизирам
(latiniziram)
— to put letters or words into the Latin alphabet
Catalan:
llatinitzar
— to put letters or words into the Latin alphabet
Catalan:
romanitzar
— to put letters or words into the Latin alphabet
Chinese Mandarin:
羅馬化 /罗马化
(Luómǎhuà)
— to put letters or words into the Latin alphabet
Chinese Mandarin:
拉丁化
(Lādīnghuà)
— to put letters or words into the Latin alphabet
Chinese Mandarin:
用羅馬字拚寫 /用罗马字拚写
(yòng Luómǎzì pīnxiě)
— to put letters or words into the Latin alphabet
Dutch:
romaniseren
— to put letters or words into the Latin alphabet
Dutch:
transcriberen
— to put letters or words into the Latin alphabet
Finnish:
latinaistaa
— to put letters or words into the Latin alphabet
French:
latiniser
— to put letters or words into the Latin alphabet
French:
romaniser
— to put letters or words into the Latin alphabet
German:
romanisieren
— to put letters or words into the Latin alphabet
German:
latinisieren
— to put letters or words into the Latin alphabet
Italian:
romanizzare
— to put letters or words into the Latin alphabet
Japanese:
ラテン文字化する
(Raten mojika-suru)
— to put letters or words into the Latin alphabet
Japanese:
ローマ字化する
(Rōmajika-suru)
— to put letters or words into the Latin alphabet
Khmer:
ធ្វើរ៉ូមនីយកម្ម
(tver rom ney yak kam)
— to put letters or words into the Latin alphabet
Malay:
perumian
— to put letters or words into the Latin alphabet
Polish:
latynizować
— to put letters or words into the Latin alphabet
Polish:
zlatynizować
— to put letters or words into the Latin alphabet
Portuguese:
romanizar
— to put letters or words into the Latin alphabet
Portuguese:
latinizar
— to put letters or words into the Latin alphabet
Russian:
латинизи́ровать
(latinizírovatʹ)
— to put letters or words into the Latin alphabet
Russian:
романизи́ровать
(romanizírovatʹ)
— to put letters or words into the Latin alphabet
Spanish:
latinizar
— to put letters or words into the Latin alphabet
Spanish:
romanizar
— to put letters or words into the Latin alphabet
Vietnamese:
Latinh hóa
— to put letters or words into the Latin alphabet
Vietnamese:
Latinh hoá
— to put letters or words into the Latin alphabet
Bulgarian:
романизирам
(romaniziram)
— to bring under authority or influence of Rome
Catalan:
llatinitzar
— to bring under authority or influence of Rome
Catalan:
romanitzar
— to bring under authority or influence of Rome
Finnish:
roomalaistaa
— to bring under authority or influence of Rome
German:
romanisieren
— to bring under authority or influence of Rome
Polish:
romanizować
— to bring under authority or influence of Rome
Polish:
zromanizować
— to bring under authority or influence of Rome
Romanian:
romaniza
— to bring under authority or influence of Rome
Swedish:
romanisera
— to bring under authority or influence of Rome
Vietnamese:
La Mã hóa
— to bring under authority or influence of Rome
Vietnamese:
Latinh hóa
— to bring under authority or influence of Rome
