lingua franca

Borrowed from Italian lingua franca.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈlɪŋ.ɡwə ˈfɹæŋ.kə/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

lingua franca (plural lingua francas or lingue franche or linguae francae or (rare) linguas franca) (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 that is not the first language of any of its speakers.

   Synonyms: koine, link language, trade language, vehicular language

   Coordinate term: 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.

• 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, is the form linguas franca (treating lingua alone as the noun and taking franca as an adjective; compare attorneys general, forests primeval).

• Mediterranean Lingua Franca

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

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)

Unadapted borrowing from Italian lingua franca.

• IPA^(key): /ˈliŋ.ɡwa ˈfraŋ.ka/

• Audio

  (file)

• Rhymes: -aŋka

lingua franca f (indeclinable)

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

• lingua franca in Polish dictionaries at PWN
• lingua franca in PWN's encyclopedia