bilingual

[bahy-ling-gwuhl, -ling-gyoo-uhl]

adjective

1. able to speak two languages with the facility of a native speaker.

2. spoken, written, or containing similar information in two different languages.

   a bilingual dictionary; Public notices at the embassy are bilingual.

3. of, involving, or using two languages.

   a bilingual community; bilingual schools.

noun

1. a bilingual person.

bilingual

/ baɪˈlɪŋɡwəl /

adjective

1. able to speak two languages, esp with fluency

2. written or expressed in two languages

noun

1. a bilingual person

Other Word Forms

• bilingually adverb
• bilingualism noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of bilingual¹

1835–45; < Latin bilingu ( is ) ( bi- bi- ¹ + lingu-, stem of lingua tongue + -is adj. suffix) + -al ¹

Example Sentences

They sent their boys to a bilingual high school near home.

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It supports cultural competency through translation and interpreting services, culturally and linguistically inclusive services and bilingual bonuses for employees.

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Theatr Cymru was set up in 2003, and saw the bilingual production as a good way of telling a story it says is a "timeless tragedy bridging cultures and languages".

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Disputes have continued at Stormont and within local councils over policies on the Irish language, particularly over bilingual signage.

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In these countries and many others, there are modern hospitals and clinics with bilingual doctors in major cities.

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When To Use

What does bilingual mean?

Bilingual is most commonly used to describe someone who can speak or understand two languages, especially with some level of fluency.It can also be used to describe things that involve or that are written or spoken in two languages, as in These instructions are bilingual—they’re written in English and Spanish.The similar terms trilingual and multilingual are used in the same way, with trilingual indicating three languages and multilingual indicating more than two and especially several languages.The ability to speak two languages or the use of two languages is called bilingualism.Example: Being bilingual is a great advantage for many job seekers.