trilingüe
/tɾiˈlinɡwe/
The Spanish word for trilingual is trilingüe.
The word trilingüe is an adjective used to describe a person, a place or an object that is capable of reading or speaking three languages.
Meaning: able to read or speak three languages (adj)
What does it mean word for word?
The word uses the prefix tri-, which means 'three', just as it does in English.
How does it change in a sentence?
The singular form is trilingüe. When referring to more than one person or thing, use the plural form trilingües.
How do you pronounce it?
/tɾiˈlinɡwe/
Did you know?
- In many parts of the Spanish-speaking world, being trilingüe is a common reality rather than a rarity, as people often speak Spanish alongside indigenous languages like quechua or guaraní.
- The word trilingüe shares a distant ancestor with the English word 'tongue'. Both words trace back to the same Proto-Indo-European root that described the organ used for speech.
- The spelling of trilingüe requires a diaeresis over the 'ü' to ensure the 'u' is pronounced. Without those two dots, a Spanish speaker would read it as 'tri-lin-gyeh' instead of 'tri-lin-gwe'.
Examples in context
- Porsanger es un municipio trilingüe.Porsanger is a trilingual municipality.This sentence illustrates how to describe a municipality as trilingüe.Tatoeba #7274512 by cueyayotl, translation #7274510 by cueyayotl
- Nuestras exposiciones se producen siempre con etiquetas trilingües.Our exhibitions are always produced with trilingual labels.This example shows the use of trilingües to describe labels.Tatoeba #10913645 by Eremon, translation #2098847 by Chrikaru
- Tom es trilingüe.Tom is trilingual.This sentence demonstrates how to describe a person as trilingüe.Tatoeba #10913644 by Eremon, translation #10753009 by ddnktr
- María es una políglota admirable. ¡Habla español, inglés y francés!María is an admirable polyglot. She speaks Spanish, English, and French!
- Juan es un estudiante trilingüe. Domina el español, inglés y alemán.Juan is a trilingual student. He is fluent in Spanish, English, and German.
- Carlos es increíble, sabe tres idiomas: español, inglés y italiano.Carlos is amazing, he knows three languages: Spanish, English, and Italian.
- Laura puede hablar tres idiomas: español, inglés y portugués.Laura can speak three languages: Spanish, English, and Portuguese.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Elena and Alejandro are talking about a job requirement.
- Elena¿Es necesario ser trilingüe para este puesto?Is it necessary to be trilingual for this position?
- AlejandroSí, Elena, el candidato debe ser trilingüe.Yes, Elena, the candidate must be trilingual.
- ElenaEso suena bastante difícil.That sounds quite difficult.
- AlejandroEs un reto, pero es muy útil.It is a challenge, but it is very useful.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “trilingual” translations and entries trilingüe, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries trilingüe, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
