Lingua Franca Definition

frăngkə
lingua-francas
noun
A hybrid language based on Italian, with Spanish, French, Greek, and Arabic elements, spoken, esp. formerly, in certain Mediterranean ports.
Webster's New World
A language used for communication between different peoples, as English in global commerce, or Swahili in C Africa.
Webster's New World
A hybrid language used for this purpose, as pidgin English.
Webster's New World
Something that is like a common language.
Webster's New World
Synonyms:

Other Word Forms of Lingua Franca

Noun

Singular:
lingua franca
Plural:
lingua-francas, lingue-franche

Origin of Lingua Franca

  • Italian lingua language franca Frankish (that is, European)

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From Italian lingua franca (“Frankish language")

    From Wiktionary

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lingua franca