Meaning & Definition of word "Monolingual"
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Monolingual
/ˌmɒnəˈlɪŋɡwəl/
noun:
- 1. a person who speaks only one language.
- Example: As a monolingual, she found it challenging to communicate with her multilingual classmates.
- 2. a thing, such as a book, that is written in only one language.
- Example: The library has a wide selection of monolingual texts for language learners.
adjective:
- 1. using or expressed in only one language.
- Example: The monolingual education system in the region made it difficult for non-native speakers to integrate.
- 2. pertaining to a person who speaks only one language.
- Example: As a monolingual individual, he often struggled when traveling to countries with different languages.
- 3. relating to a book or dictionary that provides definitions or information in a single language.
- Example: The monolingual dictionary is a valuable resource for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of English.
Etymology
From the prefix 'mono-' meaning 'one' and 'lingual' relating to language.
Common Phrases and Expressions
monolingual education:
An education system where only one language is used.
monolingual speaker:
A person who can communicate in only one language.
Related Words
bilingual:
Able to speak two languages.
polyglot:
Able to speak multiple languages.
Slang Meanings of monolingual
Meaning: Language dinosaur
Example Sentence: He’s such a language dinosaur; he’s totally monolingual.