gift of tongues: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowReligious, Formal, Literary
Quick answer
What does “gift of tongues” mean?
The miraculous ability, described in the Christian New Testament, to speak in a language one has not learned, considered a spiritual gift from God.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The miraculous ability, described in the Christian New Testament, to speak in a language one has not learned, considered a spiritual gift from God.
Any remarkable or seemingly supernatural fluency in a foreign language; sometimes used metaphorically for exceptional linguistic talent.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. Slightly more common in American evangelical discourse due to differing denominational emphases on charismatic gifts.
Connotations
Primarily theological. In the UK, it may carry stronger associations with traditional Pentecostalism. In the US, it may be referenced more broadly in charismatic and non-denominational contexts.
Frequency
Very low frequency in general corpora. Higher frequency in religious texts and discourse in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “gift of tongues” in a Sentence
[Subject] + has/receives/manifests + the gift of tongues.The gift of tongues + was given to/descended upon + [Recipient].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “gift of tongues” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The congregation believed she could gift tongues through the Holy Spirit.
- He was gifted tongues during the prayer meeting.
American English
- The pastor said the Spirit might gift tongues to the faithful.
- She testified about being gifted tongues at the revival.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in theological, religious studies, or historical linguistics papers discussing glossolalia.
Everyday
Extremely rare outside of religious communities.
Technical
A technical term in Christian theology and comparative religion.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “gift of tongues”
Strong
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “gift of tongues”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “gift of tongues”
- Using it to mean simply 'being good at languages'.
- Confusing 'gift of tongues' (supernatural) with 'gift for languages' (natural talent).
- Misspelling as 'gift of tongs' (kitchen utensil).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Essentially, yes. 'Gift of tongues' is the term for the spiritual endowment, while 'speaking in tongues' is the activity it produces.
Its primary and almost exclusive use is religious. Using it metaphorically for natural language talent is very rare and stylistically marked as poetic or archaic.
Glossolalia typically refers to speaking in non-earthly, ecstatic languages. Xenoglossy (a subtype) refers to the miraculous speaking of a real, existing human language unknown to the speaker. The 'gift of tongues' can encompass both concepts.
No. It is a core belief in Pentecostal and Charismatic traditions, but viewed differently (often as a historical sign for the early church) in many other Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox denominations.
The miraculous ability, described in the Christian New Testament, to speak in a language one has not learned, considered a spiritual gift from God.
Gift of tongues is usually religious, formal, literary in register.
Gift of tongues: in British English it is pronounced /ˌɡɪft əv ˈtʌŋz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌɡɪft əv ˈtʌŋz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Speaking in tongues”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the story of Pentecost: the apostles were given a GIFT, and it flew out of their TONGUES in many languages.
Conceptual Metaphor
LANGUAGE IS A SUPERNATURAL TOOL/GIFT. DIVINE POWER IS A FLUID (poured out, bestowed).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the phrase 'gift of tongues' MOST appropriately used?