noun
polyglot
POL-ee-glot
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.”
noun
1
A person who knows and can use several languages.
"As a polyglot, she switched between Portuguese, Arabic and Dutch in a single conversation."
"The hotel hires polyglots for the front desk."
adjective
1
Using, containing or speaking several languages.
"A polyglot edition of the Bible with the text in four languages side by side."
"The city has a polyglot population."
How to use polyglot
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomeone who speaks lots of languages.
When to use it
Slightly formal or literary as a noun; the adjective is common in travel and historical writing.
Memory tip
A linguist studies how language works; a polyglot simply speaks many of them. The two often get confused.
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Easily confused with
Common pairings
a fluent polyglot
polyglot city
polyglot edition
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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
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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.
What is the meaning of polyglot?
"polyglot" (noun) means a person who knows and can use several languages.
