lingua Definition
- 1the tongue, especially as an organ of taste and speech in humans
- 2a language or dialect
Using lingua: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "lingua" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The lingua franca of the business world is English.
Example
The patient's lingua was swollen due to an allergic reaction.
Example
She is fluent in several Romance linguas.
lingua Synonyms and Antonyms
Phrases with lingua
Example
Her mother lingua is Spanish, but she also speaks English fluently.
lingua franca
a language that is adopted as a common language between speakers whose native languages are different
Example
English has become the lingua franca of international business.
lingua mortua
a dead language, no longer spoken by any community
Example
Latin is a lingua mortua, but it is still studied for its historical and cultural significance.
Origins of lingua
from Latin 'lingua', meaning 'tongue' or 'speech'
Summary: lingua in Brief
'Lingua' [ˈlɪŋɡwə] refers to the tongue as an organ of taste and speech, as well as a language or dialect. It can be used to describe a person's native language, as in 'Her mother lingua is Spanish,' or a common language adopted between speakers of different languages, as in 'English has become the lingua franca of international business.'
