lingua

noun

lin·​gua ˈliŋ-gwə How to pronounce lingua (audio)
plural linguae ˈliŋ-ˌgwē How to pronounce lingua (audio) -ˌgwī How to pronounce lingua (audio)
: a tongue or an organ resembling a tongue

Examples of lingua in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
For one thing, linguine — long, lithe, dinner-level satisfying — comes from the Italian word lingua, which means tongue. — Amy Drew Thompson, orlandosentinel.com, 27 Oct. 2021 French, Chinese, and Arabic have served as lingua francas at one time or another, but almost no one is fluent in Esperanto, the global linguistic mash-up. — IEEE Spectrum, 28 June 2012 In the most parochial place that ever was or ever will be, authenticity functions as a means of psychic gatekeeping, and someone who doesn’t speak the lingua Francona isn’t someone who’s worth listening to when the game’s on. — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 12 June 2026 Periwinkle snails infected with the trematode species Cryptocotyle lingua, for instance, eat significantly less algae along their Atlantic coast homes, because the parasite weakens their digestive tracts. — Ben Panko, Smithsonian, 7 Sep. 2017 The enduring popularity of Pakistani dramas in India and of Indian movies in Pakistan is partially explained by the mutual intelligibility of Hindi and Urdu – the lingua francas of India and Pakistan, respectively. — Hasan Ali, Christian Science Monitor, 20 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin — more at tongue

First Known Use

circa 1826, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lingua was circa 1826

Phrases Containing lingua

Rhymes for lingua

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Browse Nearby Words

lingu-
lingua
linguaeform
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Cite this Entry

“Lingua.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lingua. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Medical Definition

lingua

noun
lin·​gua ˈliŋ-gwə How to pronounce lingua (audio)
plural linguae -ˌgwē How to pronounce lingua (audio) -ˌgwī How to pronounce lingua (audio)
: a tongue or an organ resembling a tongue in structure or function
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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