What does “would rather... than” mean in English?

This teacher asks: “Would you rather speak five languages perfectly, or 100 languages poorly?” His own answer uses the full pattern: “I would rather be able to speak 100 languages poorly [than speak fewer languages very well].” Would rather... than is how English compares two options and picks one. After “rather,” the next verb stays in its simple form, with no “to”: “speak,” not “to speak.”

You’ll hear the short form constantly in daily talk: “I’d rather walk” (not “I would rather to walk”). Drop the second half when it’s obvious: “Would you rather speak five languages or 100?” And you can flip it to talk about what you dislike: “I’d rather not go” means you prefer staying home, politely.