Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

first language

Word Rarity Common

Frequency: Zipf frequency 5.06 in modern English

Syllables: first lan-guage
IPA

18

Scrabble Score

13

Letters

2

Syllables

11

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

The first language one is taught to speak; one's native language.

noun

The language one feels most comfortable and capable with.

noun

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see first, language.

Example Sentences

"She was born and raised in France, although her first language is Portuguese because her parents are from Brazil."
"Vocabulary is a vital component of educational success in both first and second language contexts."

Etymology

From first + language.

Inflected Forms

first languages (plural)

Phrases

mother tongue second language

Frequently Paired Words

mother tongue second language

Synonyms

native language mother tongue mother language maternal language

Questions

What does first language mean?: The first language one is taught to speak; one's native language.
Where does first language come from?: From first + language.

How to pronounce first language

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “first language”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “first language”.
Repeat and practice — Say “first language” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.