Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “multilingual” come from?

Multilingual derives from English multi-, Latin multus meaning "many," combined with Latin linguālis from lingua meaning "tongue" or "language," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European roots.

multilingual (English): Of, relating to, or involving multiple languages;...

Definitions

  1. Of, relating to, or involving multiple languages;...

Ancestry of “multilingual”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Englishmulti-More than one; pertaining to more than one thing;...
2EnglishmultiA multituberculate; Neolamprologus multifasciatus
3EnglishmultituberculateHaving molars with multiple rows of cusps; Any of...
4EnglishtuberculateHaving tubercles; Tubercular
5Latintuberculatuswarty, tuberculate
6Latintūberculum—
7Latintūber—
8Proto-Italictūβos—
9Proto-Indo-Europeantewh₂-to swell; to crowd; to be strong

Words derived from “multilingual”

  • multilingualism
  • multilingually
  • multilingualize
  • multilingualization
Every word from Proto-Indo-European tewh₂- →