Translation guide
Describes a person who speaks multiple languages, or a situation/environment where multiple languages are used.
彼女は多言語を話す。
She is multilingual.
To say someone is multilingual, speaks several languages.
Literally 'speaks multiple languages'. A straightforward and common way to describe a multilingual person.
彼女は多言語を話す。
She is multilingual.
Loanword from English. Commonly used in casual and professional contexts.
彼はマルチリンガルだ。
He is multilingual.
More formal or explicit: 'speaks multiple languages'. Suitable for written descriptions.
その職員は複数の言語を話す。
The staff member is multilingual.
Technical term for 'multilingual speaker'. Used in linguistics or academic contexts.
彼は多言語話者として知られている。
He is known as a multilingual speaker.
To say a place, event, or system uses multiple languages.
Adjectival noun meaning 'multilingual'. Used for environments, services, websites, etc.
このサイトは多言語対応です。
This website is multilingual.
多言語環境で育った。
I grew up in a multilingual environment.
Means 'supporting multiple languages'. Often used for software, apps, or services.
このアプリは複数言語対応です。
This app is multilingual.
Also used for environments, but less common than 多言語 for inanimate contexts.
マルチリンガルな職場で働いている。
I work in a multilingual workplace.
To say a book, sign, or text is written in multiple languages.
Literally 'written in multiple languages'. Natural for describing documents.
この説明書は多言語で書かれている。
This manual is multilingual.
Means 'multiple language notation'. Used for signs, labels, etc.
駅の案内は複数言語表記だ。
The station signs are multilingual.
多言語 by itself is an adjective meaning 'multilingual' for things, not people. To describe a person, use a phrase like 多言語を話す or マルチリンガル.
多言語 is more common for environments and systems. マルチリンガル is more common for people, but both can overlap. マルチリンガル sounds slightly more modern/casual.