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Polyglot

3 stages from Greek to English.

Today it means knowing or using several languages

Where does the word "polyglot" come from? It comes from Greek polyglōttos, passing through French before entering English (1640s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
polyglōttos
Greek · ancient
"many-tongued"
'many-tongued'
2
Stage 2 of 3
polyglotte
French · 1600s
"polyglot"
a multilingual book or person
3
Stage 3 of 3
polyglot
English · 1640s
"multilingual"
famous 'polyglot Bibles', such as the London Polyglot of 1657, printed the text in several languages side by side
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Read the full story

Polyglot’s story begins in Greek: polyglōttos meant “many-tongued.” 'many-tongued'. By 1600s, the word had taken hold in French as polyglotte. A multilingual book or person. It reached English by 1640s as polyglot. Famous 'polyglot Bibles', such as the London Polyglot of 1657, printed the text in several languages side by side. Today, polyglot means knowing or using several languages.