bicultural
/baɪˈkʌlt͡ʃ(ʊ)əɹəl/
bicultural means adapted to two separate cultures. Lexicurio rates it Rare gem — a strength score of 81 out of 100.
bicultural is pronounced /baɪˈkʌlt͡ʃ(ʊ)əɹəl/.
Why “bicultural” is a great word
Adapted to, belonging to, or integrating two distinct cultural systems. From the prefix bi- (meaning 'two') + culture + the suffix -al (forming adjectives). First recorded in 1935–40. Unlike "bilingual," which denotes fluency in two languages, or "assimilated," which implies absorption into a dominant culture, "bicultural" emphasizes the conscious maintenance and negotiation of two distinct identities. It is the worn leather of two passports in one pocket, the scent of one set of spices layered over another in a single kitchen, and the subtle shift in posture when moving between familial expectations—the permanent, fruitful labor of building a home in the hyphen.
Etymology
The adjective is derived from bi- (prefix meaning ‘two’) + culture + -al. The noun is derived from the adjective.
adj
- Adapted to two separate cultures.“[W]ithout English, I would not be how I am: a bilingual and bicultural person at home in both English and Japanese.”
noun
- A person belonging to two cultures.“Compared with ethnic affirmers, biculturals are better educated; have higher incomes, socioeconomic status, and self-esteem; and are more involved in local social networks.”
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