Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

bilingual

/baɪˈlɪŋ.ɡwəl/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 3.52 in modern English

Syllables: bilin-gual
IPA: /baɪˈlɪŋ.ɡwəl/

12

Scrabble Score

9

Letters

3

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Having the ability to speak two languages fluently.

adj

Spoken or written in two different languages.

adj

Characterized by the use or presence of two languages.

noun

A person who is able to use two languages.

noun

An inscription that includes the same text in two languages.

Example Sentences

"He thinks it's chic to have a bilingual wife."
"Since she is bilingual she has them written in both English and Spanish."
"Instead of nonnative speakers, we should be called bilingual or multilingual speakers."
"a bilingual dictionary"
"All signage in and around the station is bilingual in Welsh and English, while station announcements and passenger information screens provide real-time information."
"bilingual education"

Etymology

From Latin bilinguis + -al; equivalent to bi- + lingual.

Origin

Source language: Latin

Word Breakdown

Root: bilinguis
Suffix: al

Inflected Forms

bi-lingual (alternative, rare) bilinguals (plural)

Derived Forms

bilingualism bilinguality bilingualize bilingually bilingualness nonbilingual

Phrases

bilingual dictionary

Frequently Paired Words

biliterate biscriptal sesquilingual

Synonyms

diglot two-tongued bilingualist

Rhymes With

monolingual dingwall multilingual lingual sublingual trilingual unilingual interlingual quadrilingual polylingual omnilingual buccolingual

Questions

How do you pronounce bilingual?: The recorded pronunciation is /baɪˈlɪŋ.ɡwəl/.
What does bilingual mean?: Having the ability to speak two languages fluently.
Where does bilingual come from?: It is traced to Latin.

How to pronounce bilingual

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “bilingual”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/baɪˈlɪŋ.ɡwəl/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “bilingual”.
Repeat and practice — Say “bilingual” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.