unilingual

IPA/ˌʌnˈlɪŋɡwəl/
IPA/ˌʌnˈlɪŋɡwəl/

unilingual — adjective

  • unilingualpositive
  • more unilingualcomparative
  • most unilingualsuperlative

1. able to speak, write, or be expressed in only a single language; not able to use

1.形容詞C2
釋義

able to speak, write, or be expressed in only a single language; not able to use or containing more than one language.

例句

Yuki's grandmother was unilingual and spoke only Japanese at home.

predicative use: be unilingual

The museum's exhibit was a unilingual French display, so Beatriz asked a friend to translate it.

attributive use: unilingual + noun

同義詞
  • monolingual

    more common in everyday English; identical in meaning but unilingual has a slightly more technical or formal tone

  • monoglot

    very rare; mostly used in linguistic typology or historical writing

反義詞
  • bilingual

    using or able to use two languages

  • multilingual

    using or able to use three or more languages

  • polyglot

    formal term for a person who knows many languages

文法句型

be unilingual

unilingual + noun

用法筆記

Frequently used in academic or formal contexts to describe language policy, education systems, or personal ability. Less common than 'monolingual' in everyday speech.

常見錯誤

❌She is a unilingual speaker of Spanish and English.
✅She is a unilingual speaker of Spanish.
💡'unilingual' means only one language; if someone speaks two, use 'bilingual.'
❌This dictionary is unilingual in both French and German.
✅This is a bilingual French-German dictionary.
💡'unilingual' cannot describe a work containing two languages.