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

“Living on a numbered street, I thought this is a great opportunity to include Native language with these basic terms that we’re all familiar with around the city.”

From Seattle Times • Dec. 19, 2023

That name, meaning “the great one” or “the high one” in the Alaska Native language Koyukon, pays tribute to the state’s Indigenous population.

From New York Times • Jun. 13, 2022

"Every time you say the name of this state — and several others — you're speaking a Native language."

From Salon • Apr. 27, 2021

Aiden quickly showed an interest in the Native language spoken on “Molly,” Wieck said, asking what different words meant and singing mahsi’ choo, the Gwich’in term for “thank you” that is repeated throughout the show.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 14, 2019

A Native language revitalization and documentation effort began in the 1970s when the population of fluent speakers began to age and decrease.

From Washington Times • Oct. 3, 2015