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native language

American

[ney-tiv lang-gwij] / ˈneɪ tɪv ˈlæŋ gwɪdʒ /

Often first language

noun

a language that a person acquires fully through extensive exposure in childhood.

Many Diné children learn Navajo as a native language.

Etymology

Origin of native language

First recorded in 1425–75 as natife langage

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“You hear RM say in the songwriting session, ‘This is not my native language.’

From Salon • Mar. 27, 2026

Because we use our native language daily over decades, these patterns become deeply embedded, making communication smoother and less demanding.

From Science Daily • Feb. 20, 2026

"But I think that some basic knowledge, such as mathematics, should be taught in one's native language."

From Barron's • Feb. 6, 2026

"There was a tremendous bias amongst collectors of rock and roll music from around the world against music in the native language of the country that it was created," he says.

From BBC • Dec. 19, 2025

Little did they know that Polish was my native language.

From "The Boy on the Wooden Box" by Leon Leyson

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023