speak in tongues

Other forms: speaking in tongues; spoke in tongues; spoken in tongues

To speak in tongues is to talk using sounds that can't be identified as real words — especially to speak in an unknown language thought to be divinely inspired.

For some Pentecostal Christians, speaking in tongues is an important and accepted part of worship. To speak in tongues, according to these believers, is to speak an actual unknown language sometimes called "the language of the angels." The Christian Bible mentions speaking in tongues in several places/ Language experts call this phenomenon glossolalia, from the Greek roots glōssa, "language" or "tongue," and lalia, "speech."

Definitions of speak in tongues

1. verb

   speak unintelligibly in or as if in religious ecstasy
   “The parishioners spoke in tongues”

   type of:

   mouth, speak, talk, utter, verbalise, verbalize

   express in speech