lingua

Everyday

1. (Latin) «Lingua» is the Latin word for tongue and language. tree →
2. In English it appears mainly in the phrase «lingua franca», a language used by people who speak different languages so they can understand each other. tree →
3. (medicine) The lingua is a rare medical word for the tongue. tree →

In the lessons

In language lessons it explains words like «linguist», «bilingual» and «language», which come from it. Today English is a lingua franca in many parts of the world. Phrases: «lingua franca».

Examples

• «Lingua» is Latin for tongue. tree →
• English is a lingua franca for many travellers. tree →
• Swahili is a lingua franca in East Africa. tree →
• Long ago, Latin was the lingua franca of Europe. tree →
• «Bilingual» comes from «bi» (two) and «lingua» (tongue). tree →
• A linguist studies languages, from «lingua». tree →
• In the market, they spoke a lingua franca to trade. tree →
• (Italian) «Lingua» also means tongue and language in Italian. tree →

Note

Not an ordinary English word alone; use «lingua franca» as a whole phrase. Say «LING-gwuh». Plural of lingua franca: lingua francas or linguae francae.