Definition, synonyms and related words
plural of language
"The university offers courses in over fifty different languages, including rare dialects from across the globe."
In plain English: Languages are systems of communication that use words, sounds, and symbols to share ideas between people.
"People all over the world speak different languages to communicate with each other."
Usage: Use "languages" to refer to multiple distinct systems of communication, such as English or Spanish, rather than describing the variety within a single system. It functions strictly as the plural form of the singular noun "language."
Third-person singular simple present indicative form of language
"She languages every day to practice her speaking skills."
In plain English: To speak or communicate using a specific language.
"The company has not yet learned to speak the new programming languages efficiently."
Usage: There is no such thing as "languages" used as a verb in standard English; it is strictly a plural noun referring to systems of communication. You cannot say someone "languages," so if you need a verb related to speaking or using them, use "speaks," "talks," or "uses."
Derived from Old French langage and ultimately Latin lingua, this plural form originally referred to physical tongues or speech organs before evolving to denote systems of communication. The root meaning encompasses both the biological instrument of speaking and the structured codes used by human societies.