native language

American  

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

Often first language

noun

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

   Many Diné children learn Navajo as a native language.

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Etymology

Origin of native language

First recorded in 1425–75 as natife langage

Example Sentences

Encouraged by her lecturers in the Netherlands, Róis began exploring her Irish heritage more deeply and has since committed to learning and performing in her native language.

From BBC

For its founders, the Go family, the mission was simple: to provide a market where Filipinos and people within the diaspora could comfortably speak their native language and buy familiar products.

From Los Angeles Times

"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

He believed that Indians exposed to Western education could gradually improve native languages by infusing them with modern concepts, including scientific terminology.

From The Wall Street Journal

Ostapenko later apologized on her Instagram Story and explained that English isn’t her native language.

From Los Angeles Times