polyglot
Polyglot (noun) means a person who knows and can use several languages. Example: “As a polyglot, she switched between Portuguese, Arabic and Dutch in a single conversation.”
How to Use Polyglot
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomeone who speaks lots of languages.
Slightly formal or literary as a noun; the adjective is common in travel and historical writing.
A linguist studies how language works; a polyglot simply speaks many of them. The two often get confused.
Trace the full origin ↓Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
As a _____, she switched between Portuguese, Arabic and Dutch in a single conversation.
Etymology
From Greek polyglōttos, from poly-, "many", and glōtta, "tongue, language".
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related Words
Frequently Asked Questions
How many languages do you need to be a polyglot?
There is no official threshold, but the word is normally used of people who use at least three or four languages with real competence. Someone with two is usually just called bilingual.
What is the difference between a polyglot and a linguist?
A polyglot speaks many languages. A linguist studies language scientifically — its structure, sounds and history — and may only speak one. The words are often used loosely in everyday speech, but the distinction matters academically.
What is the difference between a polyglot and a polymath?
A polyglot's range is in languages; a polymath's range is across many fields of knowledge, such as science, art and philosophy. Both come from Greek poly-, meaning many.