Famous Male Polyglots Who Inspire You to Learn Languages
What Is a Polyglot?
A polyglot is someone who can communicate in multiple languages. Beyond their careers in film, sports, literature, or leadership, many famous personalities are also skilled language learners. Their ability to speak several languages highlights the power of language learning in building connections across cultures.
At Eton Institute, we believe that anyone can become a polyglot with the right guidance, whether through English courses, Arabic classes, or other global languages. Let’s celebrate well-known men who mastered more than one language.
1. Jackie Chan
Languages: English, Spanish, Japanese, German, Korean, Cantonese, Mandarin
Jackie Chan is admired worldwide for his movies, but he is also a skilled polyglot. Besides English and Chinese (Cantonese and Mandarin), Chan picked up Spanish, Japanese, German, and Korean while filming abroad. He often showcases his multilingual abilities in interviews.
2. Mark Zuckerberg
Languages: English, French, Latin, Hebrew, Mandarin, Ancient Greek
Facebook’s co-founder is more than a tech visionary—he’s also multilingual. Mark Zuckerberg stunned audiences when he conducted an interview entirely in Mandarin at Tsinghua University in China.
3. Tom Hiddleston
Languages: English, French, Greek, Spanish, Italian
The “Loki” star loves connecting with audiences in their native language. His skills in French and Spanish have been praised, and though not fluent in Italian and Greek, he makes an effort to engage fans in their own language.
4. Novak Djokovic
Languages: English, French, Serbian, German, Italian, Croatian
The tennis legend isn’t just an athlete—he’s a true global communicator. Djokovic has impressed fans worldwide by switching between languages during interviews. His exposure to different cultures while competing shaped him into a polyglot.
5. Cristiano Ronaldo
Languages: Portuguese, Spanish, English
Football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo is another polyglot-athlete. Aside from his native Portuguese, he is fluent in Spanish and English—languages that helped him thrive in international clubs and connect with fans worldwide.
6. J.R.R. Tolkien
Languages: English, Latin, Old Norse, Welsh, Finnish, Italian, Spanish, and more
The author of The Lord of the Rings didn’t just create fantasy worlds—he invented languages. Tolkien studied dozens of languages, from Latin and Greek to Old Norse and Finnish, and used them as inspiration for his fictional tongues like Elvish.
Why Learn Languages Like a Polyglot?
These polyglots remind us that language learning opens doors to culture, travel, and career growth. You don’t need to master 10 languages to enjoy the benefits—even learning one new language can transform your opportunities.
At Eton Institute, we offer:
Group Courses for interactive learning.
Private and Semi-Private Classes tailored to your schedule.
CEFR-aligned, EAQUALS-accredited programs with expert instructors.
Start your journey to becoming a polyglot today!