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Monolingual is used to describe someone who can speak or understand 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).
Does monolingual mean one?
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.
What does monolingual mean in Latin?
If you’re monolingual, you speak just one language. … The Greek root mono means «one,» and the Latin lingua means «tongue» or «language.»
What is monolingual and bilingual?
By definition ‘monolingual’ means the ability to speak only one language, ‘bilingual’ two languages and ‘multilingual’ several languages. … Individuals who learn two languages in the same environment so that they acquire one notion with two verbal expressions are compound bilinguals.
What is the difference between monolingual and bilingual?
Monolinguals have only one native language, but bilinguals have two native languages. For bilinguals, it is important to know what a native language or a mother tongue is. … So even in the definition of the mother tongue, age is an important matter.
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Is bilingual or monolingual better?
Researchers have shown that the bilingual brain can have better attention and task-switching capacities than the monolingual brain, thanks to its developed ability to inhibit one language while using another.
Is being monolingual a disadvantage?
Is being monolingual a disadvantage? Being monolingual isn’t a disadvantage as such. In fact, there are many successful people in the world who are monolingual. However, research suggests there are many benefits of being bilingual or multilingual, and these benefits go way beyond being able to speak multiple languages.
Why being monolingual is bad?
Monolinguals conversing only with the English-fluent, or via machines, lose the important human touch and can’t learn or work as effectively as those chatting easily with native speakers, reading local papers, interpreting the subtleties. Moreover, English dominance isn’t guaranteed.
What is the difference between multilingual and bilingual?
If you’re bilingual, you use two languages. If you’re multilingual, you use more than two. Raising multilingual or bilingual children has many benefits. For example, it can create strong family and cultural bonds.
What is the difference between monolingual and multilingual society?
So, what’s the difference? Monolingual classes contain students with a common native language, or L1. You may typically find these types of classes abroad. A multilingual class is made up of a mix of nationalities and languages and is predominantly found in native English-speaking countries.
What do you call a monolingual person?
Monoglottism (Greek μόνος monos, «alone, solitary», + γλῶττα glotta, «tongue, language») or, more commonly, monolingualism or unilingualism, is the condition of being able to speak only a single language, as opposed to multilingualism. … Multilingual speakers outnumber monolingual speakers in the world’s population.
What do you call a person who speaks 4 languages?
The definition of quadrilingual means you can use four languages, or refers to something in four languages. An example of quadrilingual is a translator who speaks French, English, German and Japanese. An example of something quadrilingual is an instructional manual in Spanish, English, French and Chinese. adjective.
What is a synonym for monolingual?
Alternate Synonyms for «monolingual»:
person; individual; someone; somebody; mortal; soul.
Is the US monolingual?
Most Americans are known to be monolingual, while in other countries, it is common to come across a person fluent in various languages. Although the United States has no official language, it is evident that English is dominantly utilized, so many seem to suffice with only knowing this language.
Which country speaks only one language?
Czech Republic Turns Its Back on Russia. Following the collapse of the Communist regime in 1989, Russian was abolished in Czechoslovakia as the first foreign language, marking a turning point in foreign language teaching.
What does trilingual mean in English?
: consisting of, having, or expressed in three languages trilingual countries a trilingual joke also : familiar with or able to use three languages a trilingual teacher.
Do bilingual babies talk later?
Bilingual children may say their first words slightly later than monolingual children, but still within the normal age range (between 8-15 months) (11). And when bilingual children start to produce short sentences, they develop grammar along the same patterns and timelines as children learning one language (5).
Is it good to be multilingual?
Multilingualism has been shown to have many social, psychological and lifestyle advantages. Moreover, researchers are finding a swathe of health benefits from speaking more than one language, including faster stroke recovery and delayed onset of dementia.
How does bilingual affect communication?
Studies have shown that bilingual children have advantages in terms of understanding the communication needs of their conversational partners. … Increased cognitive abilities may help children to develop the representational abilities that are thought to be involved in effective communication.
Why monolingual English speakers are at a disadvantage?
“Recently, the English language has become increasingly globalized. … Thus, Monolingual English speakers are at a disadvantage today because they are deprived of all their opportunities to learn, to think, and to gain from the ability to interact with various countries.”
What are the disadvantages of multilingualism?
One of the major disadvantages would be if the student is fluent in a language other than her native language, the community might look down on the student’s use of another language. This can cause the student to disconnect from her native community.
What is monolingual Spanish?
: able to speak and understand only one language. : using or expressed in only one language. See the full definition for monolingual in the English Language Learners Dictionary. More from Merriam-Webster on monolingual. Nglish: Translation of monolingual for Spanish Speakers.
Why multilingualism is important in education?
Multilingualism refers to speaking more than one language competently. … Benefits of multilingualism practices in education include the creation and appreciation of cultural awareness, adds academic and educational value, enhances creativity, adjustment in society and appreciation of local languages.
Why are monolingual English speakers at an advantage?
Monolingual English speakers are really not at a disadvantage in the United States because we are close to the border. Monolingual people have the advantage of having a better paid job due to knowing another language.
Is being bilingual an advantage?
Being bilingual can improve a person’s multitasking skills, attention control, problem solving and creativity as it promotes outside-the-box thinking. It can also help improve your memory – handy when shopping and remembering people’s names!
If you’re monolingual, you speak just one language. If you are monolingual, your chances of landing a job as a translator are pretty darn slim.
Your whole family might be monolingual, while your best friend comes from a family that speaks Spanish at home and English at school — in other words, they’re bilingual. Being monolingual can be limiting, since you can only communicate clearly with others who speak your language. Learning new languages and becoming bilingual (or even multilingual, speaking several languages) is also good for your brain. The Greek root mono means «one,» and the Latin lingua means «tongue» or «language.»
Definitions of monolingual
-
adjective
using or knowing only one language
“monolingual speakers”
“a
monolingual dictionary” -
noun
a person who knows only one language
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- Top Definitions
- Quiz
- More About Monolingual
- Examples
- British
This shows grade level based on the word’s complexity.
[ mon-uh—ling-gwuhl or, Canadian, —ling-gyoo-uhl ]
/ ˌmɒn əˈlɪŋ gwəl or, Canadian, -ˈlɪŋ gyu əl /
This shows grade level based on the word’s complexity.
adjective
knowing or able to use only one language; monoglot.
spoken or written in only one language.
noun
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Origin of monolingual
First recorded in 1950–55; mono- + lingual
OTHER WORDS FROM monolingual
mon·o·lin·gual·ism, noun
Words nearby monolingual
monokini, Monola, monolatry, monolayer, monoline insurer, monolingual, monolith, monolithic, monologue, monology, monomania
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
MORE ABOUT MONOLINGUAL
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.
Did you know … ?
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.
How to use monolingual in a sentence
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For any noun you can think of—object, feeling, place—two words exist where a monolingual brain comes up with only one.
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The staff is bilingual and the shop is stocked with both Spanish and English titles for both bilingual and monolingual speakers alike.
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In a complementary 2021 study that Sundara coauthored, researchers observed 333 babies from bilingual homes and 384 infants from monolingual houses on four continents.
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So D’Souza and his colleagues applied a similar experiment to 127 adults who were either monolingual and bilingual.
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Chang stressed that her detention was far worse for her monolingual Korean parents than for herself.
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The time when the intellectual affairs of America could be conducted on a monolingual basis is over.
British Dictionary definitions for monolingual
adjective
knowing or expressed in only one language
noun
Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
A good dictionary is essential when learning a language but what should you use? There are actually two types of dictionary, monolingual and bilingual. Let’s look at the difference and the advantages to using both:-
Monolingual dictionary
A monolingual dictionary is the one usually used by native speakers for their native language. English people use monolingual English dictionaries. Japanese people use monolingual Japanese dictionaries etc. An English dictionary will have an English word with an English definition.
Walk
[verb]
move at a regular pace by lifting and setting down each foot in turn, never having both feet off the ground at once.
These dictionaries are very easy for looking up new words in your mother language that you didn’t know and expanding your vocabulary.
Bilingual dictionary
A bilingual dictionary is useful when learning another language. It has the target word in one language and the definition in the other language. A Japanese to English dictionary will have a Japanese word with an English definition.
歩く
[verb]
move at a regular pace by lifting and setting down each foot in turn, never having both feet off the ground at once.
These dictionaries will often have the reverse included as well. An English to Japanese dictionary will have an English word with a Japanese definition.
Walk
[動詞]
地などの面から両足が同時に離れる瞬間が無いような、足の運び方で、進む。
Monolingual vs bilingual dictionaries
As you can see, bilingual dictionaries can be very useful for translating one language to another which make them useful for learners of a language but they do have a downside. For words that are common to both languages (e.g. nouns such as ‘sun’, ‘moon’, ‘grass’ etc) then it’s very easy but… there are sometimes big cultural differences between languages and some words just don’t exist in the other.
物の哀れ (mono no aware) = Appreciation of the fleeting nature of beauty
This word (mono no aware) doesn’t have an English equivalent. We can use a sentence to get a close approximation but it’s as close as we can get.
The truth is when we get beyond a certain level there is only so much a bilingual dictionary can do. When we want to be more precise and understand the full nuance of a particular word we need to start thinking in the target language and that’s when a monolingual dictionary really starts to become useful.
The other advantage we have is that when using a monolingual dictionary we are using the target language more. Now instead of just translating and understanding that one word, we are using the language for the entire sentence used to describe it!
In conclusion I think that bilingual dictionaries are great, they have certainly helped me a lot in my language journey but… they are very much the “training wheels”. Once your language is good enough it’s time to ditch that bilingual dictionary and upgrade completely to a monolingual!
: having or using only one language
Example Sentences
He regrets being monolingual and wishes he were bilingual.
Recent Examples on the Web
Meanwhile, the other teachers are white and monolingual.
—
BostonGlobe.com, 15 Mar. 2023
In October of 2018, Leslie Hernandez stood in the hallway of her building, an olive-green stucco and concrete complex in Los Angeles’s Chinatown, trying to communicate with her neighbor Benson Lai, an elder in his early 60s and a monolingual Cantonese speaker.
—Tracy Jeanne Rosenthal, The New Republic, 2 Apr. 2021
There are several reasons the Bachman Lake area has such a low response rate: many of its families are monolingual Spanish speakers; some don’t have reliable internet connection; others are living in the neighborhood temporarily, said Florencia Velasco Fortner, president of The Concilio.
—Carmina Tiscareño, Dallas News, 11 Aug. 2020
A lot of monolingual speakers have wonderful experiences at bilingual productions.
—Dallas News, 26 Jan. 2022
In one recent study , Anat Prior and Tamar Gollan compared Mandarin-English bilinguals, Spanish-English bilinguals, and monolingual English speakers living in San Diego.
—Julie Sedivy, Discover Magazine, 19 Jan. 2012
And the bilingual patients were diagnosed almost four and half years later than the monolingual patients.
—Jennifer Sala, Discover Magazine, 9 Aug. 2022
In an interview, De León spokesman Pete Brown said his boss is determined to represent his district, which has a significant share of low-income households and monolingual Spanish speakers.
—David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 12 Dec. 2022
Many street vendors are undocumented, monolingual businesspeople who might not be familiar with their 1st Amendment rights in the United States, Jimenez said.
—Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 19 July 2022
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word ‘monolingual.’ Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1879, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of monolingual was
in 1879
Dictionary Entries Near monolingual
Cite this Entry
“Monolingual.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/monolingual. Accessed 14 Apr. 2023.
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Last Updated:
31 Mar 2023
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Merriam-Webster unabridged