bilingual

American  

[bahy-ling-gwuhl, -ling-gyoo-uhl] / baɪˈlɪŋ gwəl, -ˈlɪŋ gyu əl /

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.

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noun

1. a bilingual person.

bilingual British  

/ baɪˈlɪŋɡwəl /

adjective

1. able to speak two languages, esp with fluency

2. written or expressed in two languages

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noun

1. a bilingual person

Usage

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.

Other Word Forms

• bilingualism noun
• bilingually adverb

Etymology

Origin of bilingual

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

Example Sentences

“We proudly live in a bilingual country, and companies like Air Canada particularly have a responsibility to always communicate in both official languages regardless of the situation,” Carney said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026

In its 2025 management-proxy circular, the company said six of the seven members of its executive committee are bilingual, and Rousseau “has continued to act on his personal pledge to learn French.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026

He added: "Wales, let me be very clear, is a bilingual nation. We speak English and Welsh, and whatever language you speak, you should feel welcome in our country."

From BBC • Mar. 19, 2026

But she arrives as a decorated musician who has woven Latin American, blues and soul traditions into nine bilingual albums — including her 2024 Grammy Award-winning acoustic album “X Mí.”

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 27, 2026

I was a bilingual child, a certain kind—socially disadvantaged—the son of working-class parents, both Mexican immigrants.

From "Hunger of Memory" by Richard Rodriguez