Monotheism, heterogeneous

[Alfonso]

Monotheism, heterogeneous

I wished to know if you, English native speakers, consider these two words as very high register, uncommon usage... or what.

The point is that I recently had to explain the meaning of the corresponding Spanish translations to a group of very gifted American college students. Since they hadn't got a clue about what I meant by monoteísmo and heterogéneo, they made me think that the English corresponding words are really rare.

Thanks a lot in advance for your help!

[Tomisimo]

To me they are neither uncommon nor an extremely high register. I would think that most college-educated native English speakers should know what they mean, but you never know. Did the American students you were speaking to have a good handle on Spanish or are they just starting to learn? If they don't understand Spanish very well, they may not have seen that monoteísmo and heterogéneo are cognates for monotheism and heterogeneous.

[Rusty]

I agree that these words should be known by most college students, but a belief in one God and uniform would be used/heard more often.

[Alfonso]

Thanks a lot. I see the problem. They should speak Spanish better than they actually do.