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

The relevant joint service publication confirms that "payment of the allowance is limited to those areas where teaching in the state sector is on a bilingual or non-English basis".

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On SNL, he carried that same pride with bilingual confidence, mixing Spanish and English in his jokes and sketches.

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It’s not just a question of if our children should be bilingual; it’s also about being curious about the world we live in.

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Sinn Féin have said they hope the new policy, if passed, will lead to a new English-Irish bilingual logo being displayed on council vehicles and uniforms, as well as signs.

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Passports and driving licenses do not carry the Welsh flag, but driving licenses in Wales are bilingual.

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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.