lingua franca

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Italian lingua franca.

Pronunciation
  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈlɪŋ.ɡwə ˈfɹæŋ.kə/

Noun

lingua franca (plural lingua francas or lingue franche or linguae francae) (see usage notes)

  1. A common language used by people of diverse backgrounds to communicate with one another, often a basic form of speech with simplified grammar, particularly, one not the first language of any of its speakers.
    Synonyms: koine, link language, vehicular language
    Antonym: vernacular
    • 2017, BioWare, Mass Effect: Andromeda (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →OCLC, PC, scene: Angara: Languages Codex entry:
      The language used by most angara across the Heleus Cluster is Shelesh, a lingua franca that was commonly used in the early days of angaran spaceflight before fading into obscurity. New connections between angaran settlements, and constant evolution of languages since their separation, means it has now seen a revival.

Usage notes
  • The most common plural form in English is lingua francas; however, the plural forms lingue franche (following the Italian) and linguae francae (in the style of Latin) are both fairly common as well. Also attested, but quite rare, and probably nonstandard, is the form linguas franca (treating lingua alone as the noun and taking franca as an adjective; compare attorneys general, forests primeval).

Translations

Italian

Noun

lingua franca f (invariable)

  1. the Mediterranean Lingua Franca, a common language spoken in Mediterranean ports in centuries past (consisting of Italian mixed with French, Spanish, Arabic and some Greek words and used by sailors of different countries to communicate with one another)

Polish

Etymology

Borrowed from Italian lingua franca.

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /ˈliŋ.ɡwa ˈfraŋ.ka/
  • Rhymes: -aŋka

Noun

lingua franca f (indeclinable)

  1. (historical) Mediterranean Lingua Franca (common language spoken in Mediterranean ports in centuries past)
  2. lingua franca (common language)

Further reading
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