polyglot
POL-ee-glot
/ˈpɒliɡlɒt/
A person who knows and is able to use several languages.
While 'bilingual' means two and 'trilingual' means three, 'polyglot' is the general term for anyone who speaks many languages (usually four or more).
The story behind the word. Derived from the Greek 'polyglottos,' where 'poly-' means 'many' and 'glotta' means 'tongue.' It describes someone with 'many tongues.'
Word relationships
- multilingual: Multilingual is more common and can describe people or places; polyglot is slightly more formal and usually describes a person.
- monoglot: A person who speaks only one language (rarely used compared to 'monolingual').
Commonly confused with
- linguist: A linguist studies the science of language; a polyglot speaks many languages. One person can be both, but they are different skills.
Collocations
- gifted polyglot
- polyglot community
- become a polyglot
Example sentences
- "As a true polyglot, he was able to serve as a bridge between the five different ethnic groups in the region." Describing a talented individual.
- "The city was a polyglot metropolis where one could hear a dozen languages on a single street corner." From a literary source.
Memory hook
Think of a 'POLY-gon' (many sides). A 'POLY-glot' has many 'tongues' (languages). Many tongues, many worlds.
When not to use
Don't use it for someone who is just learning their first second language.
Fun facts
- The famous hyperpolyglot Emil Krebs was said to have mastered 68 languages.
Explore more words
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.