Plurilingüe

Plurilingüe is a Spanish term used to describe the use, possession, or promotion of multiple languages. As an adjective, it can refer to a person who speaks several languages or to educational or social approaches that incorporate more than one language in teaching, communication, and public life.

Etymology and usage often center on the idea of language pluralism. The word is formed from plur- meaning “many” and lingüe, a root tied to language (from lengua). Plurilingüe emphasizes not just the number of languages a person knows, but the ability to draw on a dynamic repertoire across languages. It contrasts with terms like bilingual or polyglot byHighlighting integration and transfer across linguistic resources rather than simply counting languages.

In education and policy, plurilingüe is linked to the broader concept of plurilingualism. In Europe, it is promoted by institutions such as the Council of Europe and embedded in discussions of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), which stresses plurilingual competence as the capacity to use and manage several languages in intercultural contexts. Pedagogical approaches associated with plurilingualism include CLIL (content and language integrated learning), translanguaging, and other models that leverage multiple languages in the learning process.

Socially, plurilingüe reflects linguistic diversity in contemporary societies and migration, supporting inclusive language practices and reducing hierarchies among languages. It informs curriculum design, assessment, and workplace communication by encouraging flexible language repertoires and cross-linguistic collaboration.