monolingual

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.

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.

What are some other forms related to monolingual?

• monolingually (adverb)
• monolingualism (noun)

What are some synonyms for monolingual?

• monoglot

What are some words that share a root or word element with monolingual? 

• bilingual
• trilingual
• multilingual

What are some words that often get used in discussing monolingual?

• one
• language
• speaker
• speak
• communication
• writing

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

Is monolingual used correctly in the following sentence?

Instructions used to be monolingual, but now they usually come in several languages.