# What Language Do Multi-Lingual People THINK in?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-language-do-multi-lingual-people-think-in/94378>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [November 20, 2001, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-language-do-multi-lingual-people-think-in/94378 "2001-11-20T13:05:46Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 4

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![KarlGrenze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dbc845/32.png) [@KarlGrenze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGrenze)\
**Post date:** [November 21, 2001, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-language-do-multi-lingual-people-think-in/94378/61 "2001-11-21T20:19:01Z")

</div>

Actually, I did ask if there was some research(cite) about this topic.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Kbean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Kbean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kbean)\
**Post date:** [November 21, 2001, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-language-do-multi-lingual-people-think-in/94378/62 "2001-11-21T20:31:37Z")

</div>

It depends. If I am speaking spanish (however rusty), I have to think in spanish, it makes things a lot smoother. However, no matter what, I cannot get pissed off in spanish (which is probebly a good thing). If I am angry the words come too fast and it just comes out English, if that makes any sense. I do, however, have the occasional dream in spanish.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![phartizan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ba8739/32.png) [@phartizan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phartizan)\
**Post date:** [November 21, 2001, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-language-do-multi-lingual-people-think-in/94378/63 "2001-11-21T21:31:38Z")

</div>

Another Chinese speaker.

For the record, I grew up speaking English, then started French. In college I learned Mandarin, which is what my wife & speak at home. But I’m usually not conscious of thinking in _any_ language.

I count in English, unless I’ve memorized something (like a phone number) in Chinese, in which case I have to translate it digit by digit.

Still haven’t lost my American accent, though.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![phartizan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ba8739/32.png) [@phartizan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phartizan)\
**Post date:** [November 21, 2001, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-language-do-multi-lingual-people-think-in/94378/64 "2001-11-21T21:32:59Z")

</div>

I meant I speak “standard” American; my Chinese does NOT have an American accent.

[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-language-do-multi-lingual-people-think-in/94378.md?page=3)