target language

American  

noun

1. the language into which a text is to be translated from another language.

2. a language, especially a foreign language, that one is in the process of learning.

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target language British  

noun

1. the language into which a text, document, etc, is translated

2. a language that is being or is to be learnt

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Etymology

Origin of target language

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

It also helps power automatic translation and transcription services, “smoothing the output to look more like typical text in the target language,” Bender said.

From Seattle Times

I definitely recommend that you start doing this in your target language once you’re at a point where you feel that you can understand it.

From The Verge

Your fictional conversation partner speaks to you in the target language, you’ll respond in that language, and then a native speaker will say the correct answer, which you’ll repeat a couple times after them.

From The Verge

They created a “language registry” to alert students, staff and faculty when an event was scheduled in their target language.

From Washington Post

"I tell all my classes: 'I'll ask personal questions to help prompt you to communicate in the target language. I don't care if what you say is true,'" she posted.

From BBC