multilingual

IPA/ˌmʌltiˈlɪŋɡwəl/
KK[mˌʌltilˈɪŋwəl]IPA/ˌmʌltiˈlɪŋɡwəl/

multilingual — adjective

  • multilingualpositive
  • more multilingualcomparative
  • most multilingualsuperlative

1. able to speak and understand three or more languages; also describing something

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

able to speak and understand three or more languages; also describing something that is written, spoken, or presented in several languages

Example

Sirin grew up in a multilingual household where her parents spoke Turkish, Arabic, and English.

collocation: multilingual household

The airport signs in Geneva are multilingual, displaying arrival information in five languages.

Common collocations
  • multilingual household
  • multilingual society
  • multilingual staff
  • multilingual website
  • multilingual document
  • multilingual signage
  • multilingual education
Synonyms
  • polyglot

    more formal and impressive tone; often describes someone with mastery of many languages, sometimes five or more

  • plurilingual

    technical term used in linguistics and education policy, emphasizing flexible use of multiple language resources

Antonyms
  • monolingual

    knowing or using only one language

  • bilingual

    using exactly two languages, not three or more

Grammar Patterns

multilingual + noun

be + multilingual

Usage Note

Unlike bilingual (which refers to exactly two languages), multilingual commonly implies fluency in three or more languages. The word applies equally to people and to documents, signs, or other written or spoken materials.

Common Mistakes

She is multilingual in English and French.
She is bilingual in English and French.
multilingual refers to three or more languages, not exactly two.

Word family

  • multilingualism
    nounC1
  • multilingually
    adverbC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

Multilingual is the most common general term for someone who uses more than two languages or for materials available in multiple languages. Polyglot carries a more impressive connotation — it often describes someone who has learned many languages, sometimes five or more, usually with a sense of mastery or passion for language learning. Plurilingual is a more technical term used in linguistics and education policy, emphasizing the speaker's ability to draw on multiple languages and cultural competencies flexibly rather than just counting the number of languages known. For everyday usage, multilingual is the natural choice — for example, 'a multilingual classroom' or 'multilingual website.' Polyglot fits personal descriptions ('She is a true polyglot'), while plurilingual belongs in academic writing.

polyglotplurilingualmultilingual ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Multilingual was formed in English in the mid-19th century by combining the Latin prefix multi- (many) with lingua (language, tongue). The pattern follows earlier words like bilingual and was influenced by French multilingue.