fluent

[ floo-uhnt ]

adjective

1. spoken or written with ease:

   fluent French.

2. able to speak or write smoothly, easily, or readily:

   a fluent speaker;

   fluent in six languages.

3. easy; graceful:

   fluent motion;

   fluent curves.

4. flowing, as a stream.
5. capable of flowing; fluid, as liquids or gases.
6. easily changed or adapted; pliant.

fluent

/ ˈfluːənt /

adjective

1. able to speak or write a specified foreign language with facility
2. spoken or written with facility

   his French is fluent

3. easy and graceful in motion or shape
4. flowing or able to flow freely

Derived Forms

• ˈfluently, adverb

Other Words From

• flu·en·cy flu·ent·ness noun
• flu·ent·ly adverb
• non·flu·en·cy noun
• non·flu·ent adjective
• non·flu·ent·ness noun
• o·ver·flu·en·cy noun
• o·ver·flu·ent adjective
• o·ver·flu·ent·ness noun
• trans·flu·ent adjective
• un·flu·ent adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of fluent¹

First recorded in 1580–90; from Latin fluent- (stem of fluēns ) “flowing,” present participle of fluere; -ent

Word History and Origins

Origin of fluent¹

C16: from Latin: flowing, from fluere to flow

Synonym Study

Fluent, glib, voluble may refer to a flow of words. Fluent suggests the easy and ready flow of an accomplished speaker and is usually a term of commendation: a fluent and interesting speech. Glib implies an excessive fluency divorced from sincerity or profundity; it often suggests talking smoothly and hurriedly to cover up or deceive, not giving the hearer a chance to stop and think; it may also imply a plausible, prepared, and well-rehearsed lie: He had a glib answer for everything. Voluble implies the overcopious and often rapid flow of words characteristic of a person who loves to talk: She overwhelmed him with her voluble answer. eloquent.

Example Sentences

He enjoys European culture, speaks fluent Spanish and, as a gay man, is drawn to Spain’s long-standing support for LGBTQ+ rights.

From Los Angeles Times

The 54-year-old's thoughtful, fluent sentences speak of his legal education first in Botswana and then at Harvard Law School in the US.

From BBC

Even as Gomez struggled performing in a language she’s not been fluent in since she was a child, she pushed herself to find the honesty in the material.

From Los Angeles Times

“Many of them are educated in vernacular mediums and as they move up in the ladders of higher education, they have to work harder than their peers who are fluent in English.”

From BBC

In prison, Sinwar became fluent in Hebrew and proved an astute observer of Israeli politics.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• eloquent
• persuasive
• talkative
• vocal