adjective / noun

trilingual

try-LING-gwul/traɪˈlɪŋɡwəl/

Using or able to use three languages.

The man's trilingual exercise names the apple in English, French, and Japanese.

Show active use of three languages through a concrete handwritten vocabulary exercise: one man supplies the English, French and Japanese names for the same apple.

Etymology

triLatinthree

+linguLatintongue; language

+alEnglishrelating to

Lingua means both the physical tongue and a language. With tri- “three,” the adjective describes someone able to use three languages, drawing on the tongue’s association with speech.

In context

Amherst Media82:51

my daughter is a trilingual in Italian Spanish and English

Amherst School Committee: February 26, 2019

More examples

The museum provides a trilingual brochure for visitors.
She grows up trilingual, speaking three languages at home.
As a trilingual, he switches easily among three languages.

Forms

trilingual · trilinguals

trilingualism noun — The use or knowledge of three languages.

Similar words

multilingual: Refers to multiple languages without specifying exactly three.
polyglot: Usually describes someone who knows several languages, not necessarily three.