trilingual

adjective

tri·​lin·​gual (ˌ)trī-ˈliŋ-gwəl 

also -ˈliŋ-gyə-wəl

: consisting of, having, or expressed in three languages

trilingual countries

a trilingual joke

also : familiar with or able to use three languages

a trilingual teacher

trilingually adverb

Examples of trilingual in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Not every interaction made it into the final video, but watching Emiliana continue her journey toward becoming trilingual filled him with pride. — Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 23 June 2026

Contributor Caitlin Gunther is a trilingual journalist with words in Condé Nast Traveler, The New York Times, Travel + Leisure, Bon Appétit, Harper's Bazaar, The Guardian, Air Mail, and others. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 June 2026

Money, however, doesn’t seem to be the top priority in this trilingual household, where the parents sometimes talk to each other in English and in their native tongues to Johnny. — Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 15 May 2026

Adrian of Coconut Grove has a trilingual mother and a monolingual father. — Amanda Rosa may 7, Miami Herald, 7 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1834, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for trilingual

• bilingual
• sublingual
• lingual
• monolingual