native language
noun
a language that a person acquires fully through extensive exposure in childhood.
native languages
-
pluralof native language.plural
The grammatical form denoting more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
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.
Many speak Russian, but also maintain their own native languages and traditions — dishing out their best gossip in the saunas while a Lakers game buzzes in the background.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 27, 2026
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 ● Dec. 3, 2025
He hopes that within the next two or three years rural users will have voice-enabled access to government services, financial tools and information systems in their native languages.
From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2025
But he hopes that translation tools based on artificial intelligence will soon allow authors in poorer countries to reach readers elsewhere in the world without forgoing publishing in their native languages.
From Science Magazine ● Dec. 4, 2024
Austronesian languages are spoken today as native languages over more than half of the globe’s span, from Madagascar to Easter Island.
From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond
