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native language

American

[ney-tiv lang-gwij] / ˈneɪ tɪv ˈlæŋ gwɪdʒ /

Often first language

noun

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

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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

From Salon • Mar. 27, 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

Due to the emergence of streaming over radio plays, Spanish music has been able to thrive in countries where it's not a native language, something Pitbull has been able to use to his advantage.

From BBC • Jun. 10, 2025

She said some residents avoided evacuation centers because there were no interpreters to assist them, while others complained they could not find online information about the fires in their native language.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 8, 2025

Hsu had come to America from China, and English wasn’t her native language.

From "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023