monolingualism

M3O1N1O1L1I1N1G2U1A1L1I1S1M3

noun

The condition of being monolingual; the ability to speak only a single language.

Similar
monoglottismunilingualism
OriginEnglish monolingual ← Latin linguāli ← Proto-Indo-European *h₂élisder.? →
Scrabble 19
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Meanings

nounmonolingualism (countable and uncountable, plural monolingualisms)

plural monolingualisms

  1. countableuncountableThe condition of being monolingual; the ability to speak only a single language.

    Synonyms: monoglottism, unilingualism

Synonyms & antonyms

nounThe condition of being monolingual; the ability to speak only a single language.

Similar
monoglottismunilingualism
Also see
monoglottismunilingualism

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*men-
  2. Proto-Hellenic*mónwos
  3. Ancient Greekμόνος (mónos)
  4. Ancient Greekμονο- (mono-)
  5. Englishmono-
  6. Proto-Indo-European*dn̥ǵʰwéh₂s
  7. Proto-Italic*dn̥ɣwā
  8. Latindingua
  9. Latinlingua
  10. Proto-Indo-European*h₂el-
  11. Proto-Indo-European*h₂élisder.?
  12. Latinlinguāli
  13. Englishlingual
  14. Englishmonolingual
  15. Englishmonolingualism

From monolingual + -ism.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan monolingüisme, unilingüisme
  • monolingüismecondition of being able to speak only a single language
  • unilingüismecondition of being able to speak only a single language
Chinese Mandarin 單語 /单语
  • 單語 /单语 (dānyǔ)condition of being able to speak only a single language
Danish ensprogethed
  • ensprogethedcondition of being able to speak only a single language
Dutch eentaligheid
  • eentaligheidcondition of being able to speak only a single language
Finnish yksikielisyys
  • yksikielisyyscondition of being able to speak only a single language
French monolinguisme, unilinguisme
  • monolinguismecondition of being able to speak only a single language
  • unilinguismecondition of being able to speak only a single language
German Einsprachigkeit, Monolingualität
  • Einsprachigkeitcondition of being able to speak only a single language
  • Monolingualitätcondition of being able to speak only a single language
  • Monolingualismuscondition of being able to speak only a single language
  • Monolinguismuscondition of being able to speak only a single language
Hungarian egynyelvűség
  • egynyelvűségcondition of being able to speak only a single language
Italian monolinguismo
  • monolinguismocondition of being able to speak only a single language
Norwegian Bokmål enspråklighet
  • enspråklighetcondition of being able to speak only a single language
Polish jednojęzyczność
  • jednojęzycznośćcondition of being able to speak only a single language
Portuguese monolinguismo
  • monolinguismocondition of being able to speak only a single language
Russian одноязы́чие
  • одноязы́чие (odnojazýčije)condition of being able to speak only a single language
Spanish monolingüismo
  • monolingüismocondition of being able to speak only a single language
Swedish enspråkighet
  • enspråkighetcondition of being able to speak only a single language
Turkish tekdillilik
  • tekdillilikcondition of being able to speak only a single language
Ukrainian одномо́вність
  • одномо́вність (odnomóvnistʹ)condition of being able to speak only a single language
Cite this entry
APA

monolingualism. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/monolingualism

MLA

“monolingualism.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/monolingualism. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “monolingualism,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/monolingualism.

Source: monolingualism on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.