monolingual
adjective
noun
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OTHER WORDS FROM monolingual
mon·o·lin·gual·ism, nounWords nearby monolingual
VOCAB BUILDER
What does monolingual mean?
Monolingual is used to describe someone who can speak or understand only one language.
It can also mean written in, spoken in, or involving only one language.
Monolingual is often used in contrast with terms like bilingual (able to speak two languages), trilingual (able to speak three languages), and multilingual (able to speak more than two and especially several languages).
The ability to speak or understand only one language or the regular use of only one language is called monolingualism.
Example: One of my great regrets is being monolingual and not learning another language when I was younger.
Where does monolingual come from?
The word monolingual is composed of mono-, meaning “one” or “single,” and lingual, which means “pertaining to languages.” Lingual shares a root with other language-related words, like linguistics and linguaphile.
Monolingual is usually used in a context that contrasts speaking only one language with speaking two or more. In education, monolingual instruction may be contrasted with bilingual or multilingual instruction. Similarly, linguists may study the benefits of raising a child in a bilingual environment as opposed to a monolingual one. To become bilingual, you don’t necessarily need to master a second language. A person might be described—or describe themselves—as bilingual even if they’re not fluent in the second language.
A country may be described as monolingual if it has only one official or widely used language.
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What are some other forms related to monolingual?
- monolingually (adverb)
- monolingualism (noun)
What are some synonyms for monolingual?
What are some words that share a root or word element with monolingual?
What are some words that often get used in discussing monolingual?
How is monolingual used in real life?
Monolingual is often used in contrast with terms like bilingual and multilingual.
I'm going to point out that most people who "correct" my (Insert language name) are monolingual.
— Remy Attig, PhD (@RemyAttig) July 1, 2020
I hate when I get emails from people using my biped script and they apologize for subpar English. They shouldn't feel bad. If anything, I should apologize for being monolingual.
— Matty D. (@mattrified) July 2, 2020
Congrats alum Dr. @GalanteAngelica, recipient of OISE's Leithwood Award for her doctoral thesis that shows plurilingual instruction—an approach where students may use their primary languages—is more effective than monolingual instruction in second language education. Well done! pic.twitter.com/WNj7vs3BGu
— OISEUofT (@OISEUofT) September 11, 2019
Try using monolingual!
Is monolingual used correctly in the following sentence?
Instructions used to be monolingual, but now they usually come in several languages.
Example sentences from the Web for monolingual
Chang stressed that her detention was far worse for her monolingual Korean parents than for herself.
Despite Obama’s Order, Deportation Looms for an Immigrant Dreamer|Allison Yarrow|June 23, 2012|DAILY BEASTThe time when the intellectual affairs of America could be conducted on a monolingual basis is over.
Instigations|Ezra Pound