Bilingual
What it means
Able to use two languages, or presented in two languages.
Reach for it when describing a person's language ability or a two-language service
A bilingual mediator explained the agreement in Romanian and Hungarian.
Words to choose between 5
| everyday | |
|---|---|
| professional |
|
| formal | |
| literary |
-
everyday
fluent in two languages
Fits when actual speaking ability should be explicit
Careful Fluent makes a stronger proficiency claim than bilingual always warrants.
-
professional
dual-language
Fits when a document, program, or school uses two languages
Careful Dual-language normally describes a service, not a person's ability.
-
professional
Fits when two or more languages are used and the exact number is unimportant
Careful Multilingual may imply more than two and loses bilingual's precision.
-
formal
biliterate
Fits when reading and writing skill in two languages is specifically verified
Careful Biliterate says nothing about speaking or listening.
-
literary
ambilingual
Fits when equal command of both languages is the intended rare distinction
Careful Ambilingual is unfamiliar and claims balanced proficiency that may not exist.
Opposites 3
- monolingual
- untranslated
- linguistically inaccessible
Common phrases 3
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bilingual speaker
A bilingual speaker reviewed the recording for regional clarity.
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bilingual education
Bilingual education lets pupils develop literacy in both home and school languages.
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bilingual edition
The bilingual edition prints each poem beside its translation.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Vealhurl, Southern England accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Updated