plurilingual
Speaking multiple languages
Plurilingual describes someone who speaks or uses multiple languages, typically three or more.
The term emphasizes fluid movement between languages rather than separate mastery of each: a plurilingual classroom where students switch between Spanish, English, and Tagalog.
It's common in European educational contexts, where multilingualism is a policy goal.
Compare multilingual, which is more common in everyday speech.
competence
Concerning language itself
- proficiencySkilled performance level
- fluencySmooth linguistic command
- interlanguageEvolving system between tongues
diversity
Multiple language proficiency
- bilingualismProficiency in two languages
- trilingualismFluency in three languages
- dialectsRegional language variations
- creolesNativized mixed tongues
metalinguistic
Concerning language itself
- proficiencySkilled performance level
- fluencySmooth linguistic command
- interlanguageEvolving system between tongues
multilingualism
Multiple language proficiency
- bilingualismProficiency in two languages
- trilingualismFluency in three languages
- dialectsRegional language variations
code-switching
Alternating between linguistic varieties
- interlingualBetween different languages
immersion
State of being submerged
plural, pluralism, pluralist, pluralistic, plurality, pluralize, pluralization, lingua, lingual