speaking in tongues

1 synonym for speaking in tongues, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — The practice, found mainly in Pentecostal and charismatic Christianity, of praying or worshipping aloud in fluent speech-like sounds that the speaker does not understand and believes to be given by the Holy Spirit.

Synonyms

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

glossolalia

How to use speaking in tongues

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

gift of tongues began speaking in tongues pray in tongues

Neutral and standard when describing worship. Believers usually call it the gift of tongues; scholars call it glossolalia.

Etymology

A translation of the New Testament Greek phrase glossais lalein, 'to speak in tongues', from glossa 'tongue, language' and lalein 'to speak'. The noun glossolalia was later formed from the same roots.

Full origin of speaking in tongues →

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between speaking in tongues and glossolalia?

They describe the same phenomenon. Speaking in tongues is the religious and everyday term; glossolalia is the neutral academic one used in linguistics and psychology.

What is xenoglossy?

Xenoglossy is the claimed ability to speak a real foreign language one has never learned. Glossolalia, by contrast, does not correspond to any identified human language, which is what linguists who have analysed recordings report.

Which churches practise speaking in tongues?

Chiefly Pentecostal denominations and charismatic movements within Catholic, Anglican and other Protestant churches. Most other Christian traditions do not practise it, and views differ sharply on whether the gift continues today.

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glossolalia

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