multilingual
mul-tee-LING-gwul
/ˌmʌltiˈlɪŋɡwəl/
Involving or using several languages.
Can refer to a person, a community, or a document. It is the Latin-rooted synonym for the Greek-rooted 'polyglot'.
The story behind the word. Combines 'multi-' with 'lingua', the Latin word for tongue. This is why we still call languages 'tongues' in poetic English.
Word relationships
- polyglot: Polyglot is Greek-rooted and often sounds more academic or describes a person who loves learning languages.
- monolingual: Speaking or using only one language.
Commonly confused with
- bilingual: Bilingual is specifically two languages; multilingual is three or more.
Word family
- multilingualism (noun): The use of more than one language by an individual or a community.
Collocations
- multilingual education
- multilingual society
- multilingual staff
Example sentences
- "Montreal is a vibrant, multilingual city where you can hear French, English, and many other tongues on every corner." Describing a city's culture.
- "The company is looking for a multilingual candidate who can handle international clients." Job requirements.
Memory hook
Multi (many) + Lingual (like 'Linguine' pasta, which looks like little tongues). Many tongues.
When not to use
Usually refers to three or more languages; if it's only two, use 'bilingual'.
Fun facts
- Papua New Guinea is the most multilingual country in the world, with over 800 languages spoken.
Explore more words
bilingual, multicultural, versatile, multilateral, diverse, erudite
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