speaking in tongues

noun

The act of speaking a language one does not know, or speaking elaborate but apparently meaningless speech, while in a trance-like state (or, supposedly, under the influence of a deity or spirits); glossolalia.

Similar
glossolaliaspeaking with tonguestongues-speaking
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Meanings

nounspeaking in tongues (uncountable)
  1. uncountableChristianityThe act of speaking a language one does not know, or speaking elaborate but apparently meaningless speech, while in a trance-like state (or, supposedly, under the influence of a deity or spirits); glossolalia.

    Synonyms: glossolalia, speaking with tongues, tongues-speaking

  2. uncountableCatholicismThe ability of speaking fluently a foreign language without prior learning or knowledge, supposedly under the influence of God; glossolalia.
verb
  1. gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of speak in tongues.

Synonyms & antonyms

nounThe act of speaking a language one does not know, or speaking elaborate but apparently meaningless speech, while in a trance-like state (or, supposedly, under the influence of a deity or spirits); glossolalia.

Similar
glossolaliaspeaking with tonguestongues-speaking
Also see
glossolaliatonguetongues-speaking

Translations

Finnish kielilläpuhuminen
  • kielilläpuhuminenspeaking in tongues; glossolalia
German Zungenreden, Zungenrede
  • Zungenredenspeaking in tongues; glossolalia
  • Zungenredespeaking in tongues; glossolalia
  • Glossolaliespeaking in tongues; glossolalia
  • Glottolaliespeaking in tongues; glossolalia
  • Glossolalierenspeaking in tongues; glossolalia
Icelandic tungutal
  • tungutalspeaking in tongues; glossolalia
Norwegian Bokmål tungetale, glossolali
  • tungetalespeaking in tongues; glossolalia
  • glossolalispeaking in tongues; glossolalia
Polish glosolalia
  • glosolaliaspeaking in tongues; glossolalia
Spanish glosolalia
  • glosolaliaspeaking in tongues; glossolalia
Swedish tungomålstalande, tungotal
  • tungomålstalandespeaking in tongues; glossolalia
  • tungotalspeaking in tongues; glossolalia
  • glossolalispeaking in tongues; glossolalia
Cite this entry
APA

speaking in tongues. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/speaking%20in%20tongues

MLA

“speaking in tongues.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/speaking%20in%20tongues. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “speaking in tongues,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/speaking%20in%20tongues.

Source: speaking in tongues on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.