Word
bilingual
Phoneticsbilin·gual
US/baɪˈɫɪŋɡwəɫ/
UK/baɪlˈɪŋɡwəl/
Definitions
01speaking two languages
adj. able to speak two languages perfectly or very well.
adj. having the ability to speak two languages with native or near-native fluency.
“She grew up in Montreal and is completely bilingual in French and English.”
“The company prioritises hiring bilingual candidates to better serve their diverse client base in the border regions.”
Usage
Usually followed by the preposition 'in' when specifying the languages.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02written in two languages
adj. written or spoken in two different languages.
adj. expressed in, using, or containing two languages, often for the purpose of accessibility or education.
“The street signs in this city are bilingual so everyone can read them.”
“The museum provides bilingual brochures to ensure that international tourists can navigate the exhibits without a private guide.”
Synonyms
03a person
n. someone who can use two languages fluently.
n. a person with the ability to use two languages with equal or nearly equal facility.
“As a bilingual, he often helps his friends translate difficult emails.”
“Psychological studies suggest that bilinguals may possess a cognitive advantage in tasks requiring executive control and task-switching.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
Etymology
From Latin bilinguis + -al; equivalent to bi- + lingual.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/bilingual