bilingual
by-LING-gwuhl
/baɪˈlɪŋɡwəl/
Speaking two languages fluently.
Can refer to an individual or a region/society where two languages are used.
The story behind the word. Formed from the Latin 'bi-' (two) and 'lingua' (tongue). It entered English in the mid-19th century as global travel and trade made the need for two languages more apparent.
Word relationships
- diglossic: Diglossic is a technical term for a society using two languages, often for different social functions.
- monolingual: Speaking only one language.
Commonly confused with
- polyglot: Bilingual is exactly two; polyglot is many.
Word family
- bilingualism (noun): The ability to speak two languages.
Collocations
- bilingual education
- perfectly bilingual
- bilingual dictionary
Example sentences
- "Montreal is a famously bilingual city where most residents switch effortlessly between French and English." Describing a city's policy.
- "Research suggests that bilingual children often develop better problem-solving skills." Educational benefits.
Memory hook
A 'BI-cycle' has two wheels; a 'BI-lingual' person has two 'tongues' (languages). Two tongues, one speaker.
When not to use
Do not use for someone who only knows a few words in a second language; they must be functional in both.
Fun facts
- More than half of the world's population is estimated to be at least bilingual.
Related words
Explore more words
polyglot, multilingual, bilateral, fluency, multicultural, vocabulary
Also appears in
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