That was asked of me today, which I'd never been asked before and honestly do not know the answer to...how many languages did Prince know? Of course meaning, could actually speak and understand fluently?

Just right off the top of my head, I went with English and French but then obviously I started thinking about him, what he's done and where he's been in the world. And it suddenly dawned on me that the list could very well, be much longer.

So Orgers, what do we know about that?

[Edited 8/17/16 9:58am]

I do not think Prince was bilingual.

herrherr said:

I do not think Prince was bilingual.

Really? May I ask, why exactly do you think that?

HatrinaHaterwitz said:

herrherr said:

I do not think Prince was bilingual.

Really? May I ask, why exactly do you think that?

Most Americans only speak English fluently. Nothing I've heard/seen suggests Prince spoke another language with proficiency.

nursev said:

was the only language Prince had to know

Meow! Nursev, you're naughty today!

herrherr said:

I do not think Prince was bilingual.

I never thought so either. But then he tends to be full of surprises, so I think it's a good question. Who knows the answer?

nursev said:

was the only language Prince had to know

And he was VERY fluent

nursev said:

was the only language Prince had to know

i woukd say just english...

nursev said:

was the only language Prince had to know

MoDrawersMoDrawers said:

nursev said:

was the only language Prince had to know

Did he speak French? Or is that an assumption based on his "avez vous un crayon" line in UTCM?

I bet he probably knew more spanish than anything.

Prince sang "Te amo corazon". Does not mean he spoke spanish. I believe he only spoke English.

nursev said:

was the only language Prince had to know

English and music.

leadline said:

NorthC said:

leadline said:

Did he speak French? Or is that an assumption based on his "avez vous un crayon" line in UTCM?

I bet he probably knew more spanish than anything.

Mayte spoke Spanish and she could have taught him some, but I've never heared him speak it. The thing is, when you're married to a person from another country and you have English as a common language, there isn't that much need to learn your wife's native tongue. You already know how to communicate. Like I said, I know how to say "I love you" in Kikuyu because I've been married to a Kenyan wife, but I never bothered to learn Kikuyu or Swahili because everybody in Kenya speaks English fluently. [Edited 8/17/16 11:00am]

That's why most Americans remain monolingual. I deeply regret that I didn't continue my language studies.

purplethunder3121 said:

NorthC said:

leadline said: Mayte spoke Spanish and she could have taught him some, but I've never heared him speak it. The thing is, when you're married to a person from another country and you have English as a common language, there isn't that much need to learn your wife's native tongue. You already know how to communicate. Like I said, I know how to say "I love you" in Kikuyu because I've been married to a Kenyan wife, but I never bothered to learn Kikuyu or Swahili because everybody in Kenya speaks English fluently. [Edited 8/17/16 11:00am]

That's why most Americans remain monolingual. I deeply regret that I didn't continue my language studies.

Why have the regret, just do it now.

NorthC said:

leadline said:

Did he speak French? Or is that an assumption based on his "avez vous un crayon" line in UTCM?

I bet he probably knew more spanish than anything.

The thing is, when you're married to a person from another country and you have English as a common language, there isn't that much need to learn your wife's native tongue. You already know how to communicate. Like I said, I know how to say "I love you" in Kikuyu because I've been married to a Kenyan wife, but I never bothered to learn Kikuyu or Swahili because everybody in Kenya speaks English fluently.

Right, my Mrs is Polish and she speaks better English than some Brits I know..lol. I know a lot of Polish phrases and stuff as her mother speaks little English, so I made an effort for when she visits, but can I speak Polish? No.

Asking people randomly if they have a crayon(or other writing instrument, I cant remember if it literally means crayon or if it means pencil or pen. ) isn't speaking French. lol

I'm pretty sure he knew a few phrases of the various countries he went to frequently -- you usually do pick up /something/ if you have to go there often enough -- but fluently? I doubt it.

nursev said:

was the only language Prince had to know

And now that you mention it, I just have to say that I truly do believe Prince was quite rather linguistic in .

[Edited 8/17/16 12:27pm]

Okay, here's why the question was interesting to me...

We know Prince has said a few phrases in foreign dialects in various songs, at various times throughout his career. However, we also know for FACT, Prince traveled extensively, throughout his career, too!

Sooooo...

Did he only speak to people that could speak English, no matter where he was? Or...did he have interpreters...at all times? Or did he learn to speak and understand other languages...himself?

NorthC said:

leadline said:

Did he speak French? Or is that an assumption based on his "avez vous un crayon" line in UTCM?

I bet he probably knew more spanish than anything.

Mayte spoke Spanish and she could have taught him some, but I've never heared him speak it. The thing is, when you're married to a person from another country and you have English as a common language, there isn't that much need to learn your wife's native tongue. You already know how to communicate. Like I said, I know how to say "I love you" in Kikuyu because I've been married to a Kenyan wife, but I never bothered to learn Kikuyu or Swahili because everybody in Kenya speaks English fluently. [Edited 8/17/16 11:00am]

Just speaking for myself, personally. I have to disagree with you. If my husband's native tongue was different than mine-- there would be very much need...for me...to learn it. So we could communicate with each other-- on all levels.

2, if U count Prince-speak. Now known as the way people text.

HatrinaHaterwitz said:

nursev said:

was the only language Prince had to know

And now that you mention it, I just have to say that I truly do believe Prince was quite rather linguistic in .

[Edited 8/17/16 12:27pm]

a cunning-linguist

Hahahahahahahahaha!!!!! You're speaking the truth and he knew it well!!

nursev said:

was the only language Prince had to know

nursev said:

was the only language Prince had to know

nursev your reply is generating a lot of responses!

So In his early years He got a Doctorate from Harvard in

[Edited 8/17/16 16:27pm]