Difference Wiki

Locale vs. Local: What's the Difference?

Edited by Aimie Carlson || By Janet White || Updated on October 12, 2023
Locale" refers to a place or location, especially where something happens, while "Local" pertains to a specific area or community.

Key Differences

Locale primarily signifies a particular place or location, often with some events or actions associated with it. On the contrary, Local usually describes something that pertains or is relevant to a specific area or its inhabitants.
When one refers to the Locale of an event, they are pinpointing the exact location or setting where it took place. Local, on the other hand, might be used to describe an event's character or nature as it pertains to a certain community or region.
In the world of programming, Locale pertains to a set of parameters that defines the user's language, country, and any special variant preferences. Local in the same context might relate to variables or resources limited to a particular function or routine.
Literature and films often set their stories in a particular Locale, giving readers and viewers a clear sense of place. Conversely, a story described as having Local charm might capture the distinct nuances and essence of a particular community or region.
While Locale leans more toward specifying a site or setting, Local often carries a broader connotation, describing attributes, characteristics, or phenomena specific to a given area or its inhabitants.
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Comparison Chart

Definition

A specific place or location
Pertaining to a specific area or community

Contextual Use

Indicates the site or setting
Describes attributes or phenomena of a certain area

In Programming

User's language, country, variant preferences
Variables/resources limited to a function or routine

In Literature/Film

Gives a clear sense of place
Captures essence of a community or region

General Interpretation

More about specifying a site
Describes attributes specific to a given area
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Locale and Local Definitions

Locale

A specific place where something occurs.
The secluded beach was the perfect locale for the movie.

Local

Relating to a specific region or community.
Local customs often surprise tourists.

Locale

The scene or setting.
The novel's locale added to its mystique.

Local

Not broad or general.
The problem seems to be local to this machine.

Locale

A place designated for a specific purpose.
The locale for the conference was a large convention center.

Local

A short-distance train or bus service.
We took the local to the next town.

Locale

In computing, user's language and region settings.
Adjusting the software's locale can change date formats.

Local

Of, relating to, or characteristic of a particular place
A local custom.
The local slang.

Locale

A physical or cultural setting.
The museum captured the locale of 19th-century Paris.

Local

Of or relating to a city, town, or district rather than a larger area
State and local government.

Locale

A place, especially with reference to a particular event
The locale of a crime.

Local

Not broad or general; not widespread
Local outbreaks of flu.

Locale

The scene or setting, as of a novel.

Local

Of or affecting a specific part of the body
A local infection.

Locale

The place where something happens.
Being near running water and good shade, the explorers decided it was a good locale for setting up camp.

Local

Making all possible or scheduled stops on a route; not express
A local train.

Locale

(computing) The set of settings related to the language and region in which a computer program executes. Examples are language, currency and time formats, character encoding etc.

Local

A public conveyance that makes several intermediate stops before the final destination is reached
Changed trains to a local.

Locale

(mathematics) A partially ordered set with the following additional axiomatic properties: any finite subset of it has a meet, any arbitrary subset of it has a join, and distributivity, which states that a binary meet distributes with respect to an arbitrary join. (Note: locales are just like frames except that the category of locales is opposite to the category of frames.)

Local

A local chapter or branch of an organization, especially of a labor union.

Locale

A place, spot, or location.

Local

A local anesthetic.

Locale

A principle, practice, form of speech, or other thing of local use, or limited to a locality.

Local

(Informal) A person from a particular locality.

Locale

The scene of any event or action (especially the place of a meeting)

Local

From or in a nearby location.
We prefer local produce.

Local

Connected directly to a particular computer, processor, etc.; able to be accessed offline.
Local disk drive
Local file
The panel shows both local and remote sites.

Local

Having limited scope (either lexical or dynamic); only being accessible within a certain portion of a program.

Local

Applying to each point in a space rather than the space as a whole.

Local

(medicine) Of or pertaining to a restricted part of an organism.
Local lesion
The patient didn't want to be sedated, so we applied only local anesthesia.

Local

Descended from an indigenous population.
Hawaiian Pidgin is spoken by the local population.

Local

A person who lives near a given place.
It's easy to tell the locals from the tourists.

Local

A branch of a nationwide organization such as a trade union.
I'm in the TWU, too. Local 6.

Local

(rail transport) local train
The expresses skipped my station, so I had to take a local.

Local

(British) One's nearest or regularly frequented public house or bar.
I got barred from my local, so I've started going all the way into town for a drink.

Local

(programming) A locally scoped identifier.
Functional programming languages usually don't allow changing the immediate value of locals once they've been initialized, unless they're explicitly marked as being mutable.

Local

An item of news relating to the place where the newspaper is published.

Local

Clipping of local anesthetic

Local

(finance) An independent trader who acts for themselves rather than on behalf of investors.

Local

A Twitter user who is not a part of Stan Twitter.

Local

In the local area; within a city, state, country, etc.
It's never been more important to buy local.

Local

Of or pertaining to a particular place, or to a definite region or portion of space; restricted to one place or region; as, a local custom.
Gives to airy nothingA local habitation and a name.

Local

A train which receives and deposits passengers or freight along the line of the road; a train for the accommodation of a certain district.

Local

In newspaper cant, an item of news relating to the place where the paper is published.

Local

A train or bus which stops at all stations along a line, as contrasted with an express, which stops only at certain stations designated as express stops.

Local

Public transport consisting of a bus or train that stops at all stations or stops;
The local seemed to take forever to get to New York

Local

Anesthetic that numbs a local area of the body

Local

Relating to or applicable to or concerned with the administration of a city or town or district rather than a larger area;
Local taxes
Local authorities

Local

Of or belonging to or characteristic of a particular locality or neighborhood;
Local customs
Local schools
The local citizens
A local point of view
Local outbreaks of flu
A local bus line

Local

Affecting only a restricted part or area of the body;
Local anesthesia

Local

Limited to a particular area.
We made several local stops on our journey.

Local

Concerning the inhabitants of a region.
The local people were very welcoming.

FAQs

Can Locale be used to describe a setting in literature or film?

Yes, "Locale" can refer to the setting or backdrop in literature, film, or other forms of media.

What does Locale primarily refer to?

"Locale" primarily refers to a specific place or location, especially where something happens or is set.

How does Local relate to a community?

"Local" pertains to or is associated with a particular area, community, or region.

In computing, what does the term Locale mean?

In computing, "Locale" refers to a set of parameters that defines the user's language, region, and any specific variant preferences.

If a business is labeled as Local, what does that suggest?

A "Local" business usually operates within a specific community or region and often caters primarily to residents of that area.

Is there a difference between location and Locale?

Yes, while both can refer to places, "Locale" often has nuances suggesting the backdrop for specific events or actions, whereas "location" is more neutral.

When we say "Local news," what does it imply?

"Local news" refers to news events and stories specific to a particular region or community.

Is a Local train the same as an express train?

No, a "Local" train typically makes more frequent stops, servicing all or most stations, while an express train skips some stops for faster transit.

Can a Locale be virtual, like in video games?

Yes, in video games and virtual environments, a "Locale" can refer to a specific in-game area or setting.

When we say "Local customs," what are we referring to?

"Local customs" means traditions, practices, or behaviors specific to a certain community or region.

Can a Locale be an entire country?

While "Locale" typically refers to a more specific location, it can broadly represent larger regions, including countries, in certain contexts.

What does it mean when someone is a Local celebrity?

A "Local" celebrity is someone well-known within a specific community or region but might not be recognized widely outside of it.

Does Locale have applications in software development?

Yes, in software development, "Locale" often refers to regional settings like language, date format, and currency.

How can a Locale affect a story or event?

The "Locale" sets the backdrop, influencing the atmosphere, culture, and even events in a story or real-life situation.

What does Local produce mean?

"Local" produce refers to goods, especially agricultural products, that are grown, harvested, or made within a specific region or community.

Can a Locale change over time?

Yes, while the physical place might remain the same, the events, culture, or significance associated with a "Locale" can evolve over time.

How does Locale relate to cultural settings?

"Locale" can capture both physical and cultural settings, indicating the surroundings and the cultural backdrop of a place.

Can a person be described as Local?

Yes, referring to someone as "Local" means they belong to or originate from a specific community or region.

What does it mean when we refer to Local governance?

"Local" governance pertains to the management and administration of a specific area, city, or community, as opposed to national governance.

Are Local businesses and chains the same?

No, while "Local" businesses are specific to a region, chains usually have multiple outlets, often nationally or internationally.
About Author
Written by
Janet White
Janet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Aimie Carlson
Aimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.

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