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.

---

Etymology

Origin of native language

First recorded in 1425–75 as natife langage

Example Sentences

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

From Salon • Mar. 27, 2026

Previously students could study most of the curriculum in their native language such as Tibetan, Uyghur or Mongolian.

From BBC • Mar. 12, 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

“When the sisters ran an orphanage here, some children would sing themselves to sleep, often in their native language, as many were immigrant children.”

From "Moon Over Manifest" by Clare Vanderpool