mother tongue

American  

[muhth-er tuhng, muhth-er tuhng] / ˈmʌð ər ˈtʌŋ, ˈmʌð ər ˌtʌŋ /

noun

1. the language first learned by a person; native language.

2. mother language.

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mother tongue British  

noun

1. the language first learned by a child

2. a language from which another has evolved

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Etymology

Origin of mother tongue

1350–1400; Middle English moder tonge

Example Sentences

But that authenticity was also palpable in Martin’s performance on Sunday — a vindication for all the years his mother tongue was manipulated in the mainstream.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 10, 2026

He dropped his English name, James, and resolved to write only in the language of the Kikuyu people, his mother tongue.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 23, 2025

For Esau, not being able to speak her mother tongue was "a wound".

From Barron's • Oct. 10, 2025

Rapping in the Irish language, a hip-hop trio from Belfast lead a movement to save their mother tongue.

From BBC • Feb. 19, 2025

For instance, although he can understand his mother tongue, and speak it fluently, he cannot read or write it with even modest proficiency.

From "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri

Related Words

• first language