ENGLISH
REFERENCE

bilingual

adj.
B1 Intermediate US //baɪˈɫɪŋɡwəɫ// UK //baɪlˈɪŋɡwəl// bilin·gual

adj. able to speak two languages perfectly or very well. You can also use it to describe things like books or schools that use two languages.

adj. able to use two languages with equal or near-equal fluency. Often used attributively before a noun or predicatively after a linking verb.


SIMPLE

She is bilingual in Spanish and English.

CONTEXTUAL

The company is looking for a bilingual assistant who can handle calls from both local and international clients.

COMPLEX

Growing up in a bilingual household often provides children with a cognitive flexibility that allows them to switch between different cultural contexts with remarkable ease.

Origin

From Latin bilinguis + -al; equivalent to bi- + lingual.

Usage

Typically precedes the noun it modifies or follows a linking verb like 'be' or 'become'.

Pitfall

She is a bilingual of French.She is bilingual in French.When describing a person's ability, 'bilingual' is usually an adjective followed by 'in', not a noun followed by 'of'.

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