Definition
Not directed toward a specific goal or endpoint; in linguistics, describing verbs that don't have a natural completion point (like 'run' versus 'build a house').
Etymology
From 'a-' (without) + 'telic' (from Greek 'telos' meaning end/purpose), where 'telic' comes from philosophy and linguistics to describe purposeful action. The term entered English linguistic theory in the 20th century.
Kelly Says
Linguists discovered that some verbs are inherently 'incomplete'—you can run forever and it's still running, but you can't 'build a house' forever; the action completes itself, making it telic rather than atelic!
Translations
ARالعربية
غير رياضي
ghair-ree-a-dhi
BNবাংলা
অ্যাটলেটিক নয়
at-le-tik-noy
CACatalà
no-atlètic
noh-at-lee-tik
CSČeština
ne-atletický
neh-at-lee-t-ski
DADansk
ikke-atletisk
ee-keh-at-lee-stik
DEDeutsch
nicht-atlettisch
nichts-at-let-ish
ELΕλληνικά
μη αθλητική
mee al-thee-tee-kee
ESEspañol
no-atlético
noh-at-lee-thee-koh
FAفارسی
غیرathletik
ghey-r-at-lee-tik
FISuomi
ei-urheilullinen
ei-u-rei-huil-lu-nen
FRFrançais
non-atlétique
noh-na-tlee-tee-k
GUGU
અટલેટિક નહીં
at-le-tik nah-ee
HEעברית
לא אולימפי
lo-o-lim-pi
HIहिन्दी
अ-खेलकूद
a-khel-koo-d
HUMagyar
nem-atlétikus
nem-at-lee-ti-kus
IDBahasa Indonesia
non-atletik
noh-n-at-lee-tik
ITItaliano
non-atletico
noh-n-at-lee-tee-koh
JA日本語
非競技的
hi-ge-kyo-teki
KKKK
ателістік емес
a-te-li-sti-k e-mes
KO한국어
비경기적
bi-gyeong-gi-jeok
MRMR
अटेलिक नाही
at-e-lik nah-ee
MSBahasa Melayu
non-atletik
noh-n-at-lee-tik
MYမြန်မာ
အကြိမ်ကြိမ်
a-kye-kye-kye-m
NLNederlands
niet-atletiek
niet-at-lee-ek
NONorsk
ikke-atletisk
ee-keh-at-lee-stik
PAPA
ਅਟੇਲੇਸਟਿਕ ਨਹੀਂ
at-eh-le-s-tik nah-ee
PLPolski
nie-atletyczny
n-ye-at-le-ty-ch-ny
PTPortuguês
não-atlético
now-at-lee-tee-koh
RORomână
ne-atletic
neh-at-lee-tik
RUРусский
неатлетический
ne-at-le-ti-ches-ki
SVSvenska
icke-atletisk
ee-keh-at-lee-stik
SWKiswahili
siku-siku
si-ku-si-ku
TAதமிழ்
விளையாட்டு சார்ந்த
vi-la-ya-at-tu-saar-n-tha
TEతెలుగు
అట్లెటిక్ కాదు
at-le-tik-ka-du
THไทย
ไม่เป็นกีฬา
mai-ben-kee-la
TLTL
di-atleta
di-at-lee-ta
TRTürkçe
atletik olmayan
at-lee-tik ol-mahn
UKУкраїнська
неателітичний
ne-at-e-li-tych-ny
URاردو
ناٹھلیٹک
na-at-lee-tik
VITiếng Việt
không thể thao
khong-the-thao