multilingüe

Multilingüe is an adjective used in Spanish to describe someone or something that uses or involves more than one language. It derives from multi- and lengua (language). In everyday use it often refers to people who speak several languages, as in una persona multilingüe, and to environments or documents that operate across multiple languages, such as un país multilingüe or una educación multilingüe.

Related terms include bilingüe (two languages) and trilingüe (three languages). Plurilingüe is also used in some contexts to emphasize repertoire across several languages, while the noun multilingüismo denotes the broader concept of multilingualism.

Applications and contexts: Multilingüe appears in education, government policy, business, and media. Multilingual education programs aim to develop literacy and oral skills in several languages, sometimes prioritizing the mother tongue before additional languages. In public services and international exchange, multilingualism facilitates communication and inclusion.

Research and policy: The cognitive and social aspects of multilingualism are widely studied. Findings on cognitive benefits such as improved executive function are mixed. Policy debates address language rights, minority language protection, and the availability of content and technology in multiple languages.