polyglot
Speaker of many
A polyglot is a person who speaks multiple languages fluently: As a polyglot, she moved easily between French, Arabic, and Mandarin.
The word also works as an adjective describing multilingual texts, communities, or environments: a polyglot city where dozens of languages are spoken.
The term typically implies more than bilingual—usually three or more languages.
One knowing many languages
Speaking two languages
- trilingualSpeaking three languages
- multilingualKnowing multiple languages
- fluencySmooth linguistic command
- proficiencySkilled performance level
phonetics · phonology · morphology · syntax · semantics · pragmatics · etymology · sociolinguistics
Expert in languages
- lexicographerDictionary author
- philologistScholar of language history
- etymologistWord origin scholar
- grammarianExpert in linguistic rules
scholar · academic · researcher · comparativist · Chomsky
One who conveys meaning between languages
- translatorOne who renders between languages
- translationConverting between languages
- localizationAdapting for specific markets
- subtitlingAdding translated screen text
Vocabulary of a language
- vocabularyOne's word collection
- idiomsFixed figurative expressions
- expressionsOutward manifestations of feeling
- slangInformal in-group vocabulary
vernacular · colloquialisms · phrases · loanwords · cognates · proverbs · registers · terminology
Culturally sophisticated, internationally fluent
- worldlyExperienced in practical affairs
- multiculturalIncluding multiple ethnic traditions
- cross-culturalInvolving multiple societies
- globe-trotterFrequent international traveler
expatriate · international · customs · traditions · etiquette · intercultural
hyperpolyglot
One knowing many languages
bilingual
Speaking two languages
- trilingualSpeaking three languages
- multilingualKnowing multiple languages
- fluencySmooth linguistic command
proficiency · phonetics · phonology · morphology · syntax · semantics · pragmatics · etymology · sociolinguistics · dialectology
linguist
Expert in languages
- lexicographerDictionary author
- philologistScholar of language history
- etymologistWord origin scholar
grammarian · scholar · academic · researcher · comparativist · Chomsky
interpreter
One who conveys meaning between languages
- translatorOne who renders between languages
- translationConverting between languages
- localizationAdapting for specific markets
lexicon
Vocabulary of a language
- vocabularyOne's word collection
- idiomsFixed figurative expressions
- expressionsOutward manifestations of feeling
slang · vernacular · colloquialisms · phrases · loanwords · cognates · proverbs · registers · terminology · jargon
cosmopolitan
Culturally sophisticated, internationally fluent
- worldlyExperienced in practical affairs
- multiculturalIncluding multiple ethnic traditions
- cross-culturalInvolving multiple societies
globe-trotter · expatriate · international · customs · traditions · etiquette · intercultural
- languagelanguage, word, words, grammar, spelling
- Multilingualismbilingualism, code-switching, second language, mother tongue, native tongue
- cultural exchangecultural exchange, cross-cultural, student exchange, intercultural, exchange program
- multiculturalismmulticultural, multiethnic, ethnic diversity, diverse, pluralism
- poly- wordspolygon, polymer, polymath, polynomial, polyhedron
- multilingualsbilingual, trilingual, quadrilingual, fluent speaker, native speaker
polyglotparochial
Narrow in perspective
provincial · insular · monocultural · xenophobic · narrow