Literal and figurative language facts for kids

Literal language and figurative language are two ways we use words. They help us understand if words mean exactly what they say, or if they mean something else.

• Literal language means using words with their exact, everyday meaning. If you say "The cat is on the mat," you mean a real cat is sitting on a real mat.
• Figurative language means using words in a creative way. The words don't mean exactly what they say. Instead, they create a picture or a stronger feeling. For example, if you say "It's raining cats and dogs," you don't mean animals are falling from the sky. You mean it's raining very, very hard!

When we use words literally, their meaning stays the same no matter the situation. But when we use words figuratively, their meaning changes based on the situation. It helps us express ideas in a more interesting or powerful way.

Ancient thinkers like Aristotle and Quintilian were some of the first to talk about these differences. They studied how people used language to persuade or tell stories.

How We Understand Language

For a long time, people thought we understood language in a certain way. They believed that when you heard something, your brain first tried to understand it literally. If that didn't make sense, then your brain would try to find a figurative meaning.

However, newer research has changed this idea. Scientists found that our brains understand figurative language just as quickly as literal language. This means we don't always try the literal meaning first and then switch. Our brains are very good at figuring out what someone means right away, whether it's literal or figurative!

Modern Ideas About Language

Today, many language experts believe it's hard to draw a clear line between "literal" and "figurative" language. They think that language is often a mix of both. Our everyday speech is full of creative expressions that we understand easily, even if they aren't strictly literal. This shows how flexible and amazing language can be!

See also

In Spanish: Sentido literal y sentido figurado para niños