native speaker

[ ney-tiv spee-ker ]

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. Compare nonnative speaker ( def ).

   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.

native speaker

noun

1. a person having a specified native language

   a native speaker of Cree

Word History and Origins

Origin of native speaker¹

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

Example Sentences

Schmitt watched English-language movies, and sought out a native speaker to converse with informally.

From The Daily Beast

We hear a foreign sentence as pronounced at a normal speed by a native speaker.

From Project Gutenberg