bilingual

[/baɪˈlɪŋɡwəl/]
adjective/nounpl: bilinguals (noun form)
bilíngue
1. (adjective) Able to speak, write, or use two languages fluently or with proficiency
She is bilingual in English and Spanish.
Ela é bilíngue em inglês e espanhol.
2. (adjective) Written, published, or conducted in two languages
The conference was bilingual with simultaneous translation.
A conferência foi bilíngue com tradução simultânea.
3. (noun) A person who speaks two languages fluently
As a bilingual, she had advantages in the job market.
Como bilíngue, ela tinha vantagens no mercado de trabalho.
In Brazil, bilingualism is increasingly valued in education and career development, with English-Portuguese bilingualism being most common. In the USA, particularly in NYC and border regions, Spanish-English bilingualism is widespread and culturally significant. The term reflects growing globalization and immigration patterns in both countries.
Synonyms / Sinônimos
multilingual (broader)fluent in two languagestwo-language speaker
Antonyms / Antônimos
monolingualunilingual

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
bilíngue
Most common term used in education and professional contexts
São Paulo
bilíngue
Widely used in business and international trade communities
Rio de Janeiro
bilíngue
Common in tourism and hospitality industries
Portugal
bilíngue
Same usage as Brazilian Portuguese; may emphasize European language pairs

Related Words

bilingualismmultilinguallanguage proficiencyfluency

Related Idioms & Phrases

bilingual education
bilingual household
raise bilingual children
bilingual advantage
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