monoglot
One tongue only
A monoglot speaks or understands only one language.
The word contrasts with polyglot, someone who knows multiple languages.
It can function as noun or adjective: a monoglot American tourist, Most monoglots don't realize how much effort bilingualism requires.
The term often carries a faint note of limitation or provinciality.
Native speaker of English
- francophoneNative speaker of French
- nativeOriginating from a place
- localOf this area
- regionalRelating to an area
homeland · traditionalist · purist · settled
Never having journeyed
- insularNarrow in outlook
- parochialNarrow in perspective
- isolatedSeparated from others
- shelteredKept safe from harm
narrow · homebound · inexperienced · uncultured · restricted · confined · disadvantaged · phrase-book
Speaking one language only
- native-speakerOne fluent from birth
- mother-tongueLanguage acquired from birth
- vernacularEveryday regional speech
- untranslatedNot converted between languages
anglophone
Native speaker of English
- francophoneNative speaker of French
- nativeOriginating from a place
- localOf this area
regional · homeland · traditionalist · purist · settled
untraveled
Never having journeyed
sheltered · narrow · homebound · inexperienced · uncultured · restricted · confined · disadvantaged · phrase-book
unilingual
Speaking one language only
- native-speakerOne fluent from birth
- mother-tongueLanguage acquired from birth
- vernacularEveryday regional speech
monoglotpolyglot
One knowing many languages
multilingual · bilingual · trilingual · plurilingual · linguist