native speaker

American  

[ney-tiv spee-ker] / ˈneɪ tɪv ˈspi kər /

noun

1. a person whose knowledge and use of a language is characterized by the fact that it is their first or native language, a language that a person acquires fully through extensive exposure in childhood: The first requirement is that you can hold a one-minute conversation with a native speaker of German.

   As native speakers, we are often not conscious of the conjugation rules we follow.

   The first requirement is that you can hold a one-minute conversation with a native speaker of German.

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native speaker British  

noun

1. a person having a specified native language

   a native speaker of Cree

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Etymology

Origin of native speaker

First recorded in 1855–60; nonnative speaker ( def. )

Example Sentences

She was singing like a native speaker, as though she’d emerged from the cradle speaking Yiddish.

From Literature

She especially loved to teach Spanish classes tailored to native speakers, seeding her lessons with stories from the Chicano movement that she had witnessed in real time.

From Los Angeles Times

A high proportion of native speakers in Trabzon are over 65 years of age and fewer young people are learning the language.

From Science Daily

Of this language, at least, “3 Body Problem” is a native speaker.

From New York Times

Arieh Smith, 33, known as Xiaomanyc online, spent three weeks studying Welsh before flying across the Atlantic to chat with native speakers.

From BBC