Monoglot
/ˈmɒn.ə.ɡlɒt/noun
A person who speaks or knows only one language.
Did you know?The second half of *monoglot* comes from Greek *glōtta* / *glōssa* (“tongue, language”), the same root that gave English *glossary*—originally a list for explaining strange words.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
monóglōttos
“single-tongued; speaking one language”
Late Latin
Latin
monoglottus
“single-tongued”
16th Century
English
monoglot
“a person speaking only one language”
Modern English
English
monoglot
“a person who knows or uses only one language”