lingua franca
noun/ˌlɪŋɡwə ˈfræŋkə/
/ˌlɪŋɡwə ˈfræŋkə/
(plural lingua francas)
[usually singular] (linguistics)- a shared language of communication used between people whose main languages are different
- English has become a lingua franca in many parts of the world.
Word Originlate 17th cent.: from Italian, literally ‘Frankish tongue’.Take your English to the next level
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lingua franca