Can someone have two first languages?

Yes, in cases of simultaneous bilingualism where a child acquires two languages from birth, both can be considered first languages (L1s).

Is 'first language' the same as 'native language'?

They are often used interchangeably, but 'first language' emphasizes order of acquisition, while 'native language' may emphasize cultural or ethnic connection.

What if someone loses their first language?

This is called first language attrition, which can occur when exposure to the first language decreases significantly over time, especially in immersion in another language.

How is 'first language' different from 'heritage language'?

A heritage language is typically associated with one's ethnic or cultural background but may not be the language acquired first or spoken proficiently, whereas a first language is the language of earliest acquisition.

Is “first language” formal?

First language is usually formal/academic in register.

How do you pronounce “first language”?

First language: in British English it is pronounced /ˌfɜːst ˈlæŋɡwɪdʒ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌfɜrst ˈlæŋɡwɪdʒ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

first language: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

UK/ˌfɜːst ˈlæŋɡwɪdʒ/US/ˌfɜrst ˈlæŋɡwɪdʒ/

formal/academic

My Flashcards

Quick answer

What does “first language” mean?

The language a person acquires naturally in early childhood, typically from family and home environment.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

The language a person acquires naturally in early childhood, typically from family and home environment.

Also used in sociolinguistics and education to refer to a person's dominant or native language, which may differ from their heritage language in cases of bilingual acquisition or language shift.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

Usage is nearly identical in both varieties, though 'mother tongue' is somewhat more common in British English in everyday contexts, while 'first language' is preferred in American academic/professional contexts.

Connotations

Slightly more technical/academic in American English; slightly more personal/cultural in British English when compared to 'mother tongue'.

Frequency

Both use the term frequently in educational and linguistic contexts with equal frequency.

Grammar

How to Use “first language” in a Sentence

[subject]'s first language is [language][subject] speaks [language] as a first language[subject] acquired [language] as their first language

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong

acquire a first languagefirst language acquisitionfirst language speakerfirst language education

medium

develop a first languagefirst language skillsfirst language instructionfirst language literacy

weak

forget a first languagefirst language supportfirst language backgroundfirst language development

Examples

Examples of “first language” in a Sentence

verb

British English

The child first-languaged in Welsh before learning English at school.

American English

She first-languaged in Mandarin, acquiring English sequentially.

adverb

British English

He spoke first-language fluently, with native-like pronunciation.

American English

She processed the text first-language quickly, without conscious effort.

adjective

British English

Her first-language proficiency in Gujarati remained strong despite living abroad.

American English

First-language attrition is a concern for some immigrant communities.

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Used in HR and diversity contexts: 'The company provides materials in employees' first languages.'

Academic

Central term in linguistics and education: 'Research on first language acquisition focuses on early childhood.'

Everyday

Casual identification: 'My first language is Spanish, but I'm fluent in English too.'

Technical

In language testing: 'The exam is available for speakers with different first languages.'

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “first language”

Strong

native language mother tongue

Neutral

native language mother tongueL1

Weak

primary languagehome languagedominant language

Vocabulary

Antonyms of “first language”

second languageforeign languagetarget languageL2

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “first language”

Using 'first language' to mean 'favorite language' or 'most frequently used language' in adulthood rather than childhood-acquired language.
Confusing 'first language' with 'official language' of a country.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

: Yes, in cases of simultaneous bilingualism where a child acquires two languages from birth, both can be considered first languages (L1s).
: They are often used interchangeably, but 'first language' emphasizes order of acquisition, while 'native language' may emphasize cultural or ethnic connection.
: This is called first language attrition, which can occur when exposure to the first language decreases significantly over time, especially in immersion in another language.
: A heritage language is typically associated with one's ethnic or cultural background but may not be the language acquired first or spoken proficiently, whereas a first language is the language of earliest acquisition.
: The language a person acquires naturally in early childhood, typically from family and home environment.
: First language is usually formal/academic in register.
: First language: in British English it is pronounced /ˌfɜːst ˈlæŋɡwɪdʒ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌfɜrst ˈlæŋɡwɪdʒ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

“The language of one's cradle”
“Born to speak”

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

FIRST Language = From Infancy, Regularly Spoken at Home. Think of the first words you ever spoke.

Conceptual Metaphor

LANGUAGE IS A FOUNDATION (first language as the base upon which other languages are built); LANGUAGE IS HOME (first language as a familiar, comforting space).

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap

In multilingual education, it's important to support a child's development alongside second language learning.

Multiple Choice

What does 'first language' specifically refer to?