literal / littoral are similar-sounding terms with different meanings (referred to as homophones). To better understand the differences, see below for definitions, pronunciation guides, and example sentences using each term. 👇
literal: (adjective) without interpretation or embellishment. (adjective) limited to the explicit meaning of a word or text. (adjective) avoiding embellishment or exaggeration (used for emphasis).
littoral: (noun) the region of the shore of a lake or sea or ocean. (adjective) of or relating to a coastal or shore region.
literal: l·IH·t·er·ah·l
littoral: l·IH·t·er·ah·l
(Examples are Wikipedia snippets under the CC ShareAlike 3.0 license. Definitions drawn from WordNet.)