second language: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Neutral to formal. Common in academic, educational, and sociolinguistic contexts.
Quick answer
What does “second language” mean?
A language that a person learns or acquires after their first language (native tongue).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A language that a person learns or acquires after their first language (native tongue).
Any language learned after the critical period of first language acquisition, often in a formal or educational context. Also used more broadly to refer to any non-dominant language in a multilingual speaker's repertoire.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in core meaning or usage. The abbreviation 'L2' is equally common in academic contexts in both varieties.
Connotations
Neutral in both varieties. In the UK, the term is strongly associated with ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) policy and education.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in British English due to its established use in national curricula and immigration discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “second language” in a Sentence
[learner/student] + [verb of acquisition] + a second languageSecond language + [of] + [speaker group] (e.g., second language of millions)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “second language” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- She is a second language specialist.
- The school offers second language support.
American English
- He took a second language assessment.
- The district's second language policy is under review.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to language skills as an asset for international roles or customer-facing positions.
Academic
Central term in linguistics, education, and psychology research (e.g., 'Second Language Acquisition').
Everyday
Used to discuss personal language learning experiences or someone's bilingual abilities.
Technical
In computational linguistics, refers to the target language in machine translation or language modelling tasks.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “second language”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “second language”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “second language”
- Using 'second language' and 'foreign language' interchangeably (a foreign language may not be a second language if it's not used in the speaker's community). Incorrectly using 'second language' to mean 'less important language'. Spelling 'second' as 'secound'. Using article 'the' unnecessarily (e.g., 'He learns the second language' vs. 'He learns a second language').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. 'Second language' refers to the specific language learned after the first. 'Bilingual' describes a person who has proficiency in two languages, which could include two first languages (simultaneous bilingualism) or a first and a second language.
Technically, no. The term implies chronology: the first language is L1, the next is L2 (second), the next is L3 (third language), and so on. In informal usage, people might refer to all non-native languages as 'second languages', but the precise term for any language learned after L1 is 'subsequent language'.
Not at all. It only indicates order of acquisition. A person can achieve native-like or superior proficiency in their second language. Proficiency is independent of the label.
ESL (English as a Second Language) implies English is learned in an environment where it is widely used (e.g., an immigrant learning English in the UK). EFL (English as a Foreign Language) implies learning English in a country where it is not a primary medium of communication (e.g., learning English in Japan). The distinction hinges on the linguistic environment, not the learner's proficiency.
A language that a person learns or acquires after their first language (native tongue).
Second language is usually neutral to formal. common in academic, educational, and sociolinguistic contexts. in register.
Second language: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsek.ənd ˈlæŋ.ɡwɪdʒ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsek.ənd ˈlæŋ.ɡwɪdʒ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It's like a second language to me (meaning: something one is very proficient in, often figuratively).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the sequence: FIRST you get your native language, SECOND comes the one you learn.
Conceptual Metaphor
LANGUAGE IS A TOOL (a second language is an additional tool in your kit). LANGUAGE IS A JOURNEY (second language acquisition is a path to a new destination).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'L2' most appropriately used as a synonym for 'second language'?