bilingual
2 synonyms and 1 antonym for bilingual, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Able to speak two languages fluently.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
two-tongued
bilingualist
Synonyms by Meaning
1. adj
Able to speak two languages fluently.
“Their children grew up bilingual in Spanish and English.”
two-tongued
Opposites
2. noun
A person fluent in two languages.
“As a bilingual, she often works as an informal translator for her family.”
bilingualist
How to use bilingual
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
bilingual education
fully bilingual
bilingual speaker
Etymology
From Latin bilinguis, from bi- ("two") + lingua ("tongue, language").
Full origin of bilingual →Frequently asked questions
What does “bilingual” mean?
The word “bilingual” means able to speak two languages fluently. In plain terms, involving or capable of using two languages.
How do you pronounce “bilingual”?
“Bilingual” is pronounced beye-LIHNG-gwuhl (/baɪˈlɪŋ.ɡwəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “bilingual” in a sentence?
Here is “bilingual” used in a sentence: “Their children grew up bilingual in Spanish and English.”
What is another word for “bilingual”?
Words with a similar meaning to “bilingual” include two-tongued.
What part of speech is “bilingual”?
Depending on how it is used, “bilingual” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “bilingual” come from?
The word “bilingual” comes from Latin. From Latin bilinguis, from bi- ("two") + lingua ("tongue, language").
Is “bilingual” a common word?
“Bilingual” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “bilingual” have?
“Bilingual” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: able to speak two languages fluently.
