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bilingualist

bilingualist

7.1
A person who speaks two languages well
  • noun
  • /ˌbaɪˈlɪŋɡwəlɪst/
translation icon : bilingüe
  • As a bilingualist, she often helps friends translate documents between English and Spanish.

Examples

  • It is supported not only by powerful political forces but also by the professionalization of educational specialists (e.g., bilingualists) who are certified to hold such positions.

    Academic text (1998)
  • How far can the bilingualist, or more accurately the multilingualist, movement extend?

    Academic text (2002)
  • The bilingualist proved invaluable during the conference, bridging the language gap for attendees.

  • Being a bilingualist allows him to connect with diverse communities and understand different cultures.

Synonyms

bilingual
vsbilingualist
1 3.8

A person who can speak two languages well

is stronger in one language than the other

Antonyms

A person who speaks only one language

How Many Languages

polyglot
2 7.7
trilingual
1 5.3
bilingualist
7.1

Surface Forms

bilingualist singular
bilingualists plural

Morphology

bilingualist = bilingual (transparent) = bi + lingual + ist

The suffix '-ist' clearly indicates a person associated with the adjective 'bilingual'.

Etymology

Bilingualist combines the prefix bi- meaning 'two' and the root lingua meaning 'tongue' or 'language'. So, just like a linguist works with languages, a bilingualist is a person who speaks two languages fluently.