lingua
[ˈlɪŋ.ɡʷa]feminine
The English word 'language' is translated into Latin as lingua.
Lingua is used to refer to a body of words used as a form of communication.
Meaning: body of words used as a form of communication (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, lingua means 'tongue', referring to both the physical organ and the medium of speech.
Which one should you use?
The standard term for language is lingua, but you may encounter glossa, which is a Greek loanword used in Latin to refer to a tongue or a specific word or gloss.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form lingua is a feminine noun. To indicate possession or a relationship, such as 'the language of the Romans', use the genitive singular form linguae.
Did you know?
- The word lingua may have changed from dingua because people associated it with the Latin verb lingō, which means 'to lick'.
- The English word 'glossary' comes from the Latin glossa, the same Greek loanword used as an alternative to lingua.
- Latin writers sometimes used glossa to refer to a single, difficult word that needed a definition, rather than a whole language.
Examples in context
- Lingua tua non loquor.I don't speak your language.This sentence shows how to use lingua when discussing someone's language.Tatoeba #3995172 by alexmarcelo, translation #2276207 by CK
- Talis est haec lingua.That's how the language is.This sentence is useful for describing the nature of a specific lingua.Tatoeba #13595181 by rul, translation #13576082 by rul
- Lingua eius non loquor.I don't speak his language.This sentence demonstrates using lingua in the context of another person's language.Tatoeba #3995174 by alexmarcelo, translation #5496210 by CarpeLanam
- Lingua LatinaThe Latin language
- Lingua GraecaThe Greek language
- Lingua GermanicaThe German language
- 128 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Aurelia and Gaius are discussing their studies in a garden.
- AureliaHanc linguam discis?Are you learning this language?
- GaiusIta, linguam Latinam disco.Yes, I am learning the Latin language.
- AureliaLingua Latina est difficilis?Is the Latin language difficult?
- GaiusNon valde, sed laboriosa est.Not very, but it is laborious.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “language” translations and entries lingua, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries lingua, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
