Word
multilingual
Phoneticsmul·ti·lin·gual
US/ˌməɫtaɪˈɫɪŋwəɫ/
UK/mˌʌltɪlˈɪŋɡwəl/
Definition
adj. able to speak, write, or understand more than two languages. You can also use it to describe a place or a document that uses several languages.
adj. able to use more than two languages with some degree of proficiency. Often describes societies, individuals, or texts where multiple linguistic systems coexist.
Examples
“She is multilingual and speaks four languages fluently.”
“The city is truly multilingual, with street signs written in three different languages to help all residents.”
“In an increasingly globalised economy, multilingual employees are often preferred for their ability to navigate diverse cultural contexts and facilitate international negotiations.”
Examples
simple
“She is multilingual and speaks four languages fluently.”
contextual
“The city is truly multilingual, with street signs written in three different languages to help all residents.”
complex
“In an increasingly globalised economy, multilingual employees are often preferred for their ability to navigate diverse cultural contexts and facilitate international negotiations.”
Usage
Typically used attributively before a noun or predicatively after a linking verb like 'be' or 'become'.
Etymology
From multi- + lingual.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/multilingual