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My first language is both English and Spanish. My mom was raised in Los Angeles, so with her we spoke English, but my father was born in Cuba, so with him we spoke Spanish.
Jencarlos Canela

Meaning of "first language" in the English dictionary

Dictionary
DICTIONARY
section

PRONUNCIATION OF FIRST LANGUAGE

first language play
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GRAMMATICAL CATEGORY OF FIRST LANGUAGE

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
First language is a noun.
A noun is a type of word the meaning of which determines reality. Nouns provide the names for all things: people, objects, sensations, feelings, etc.

WHAT DOES FIRST LANGUAGE MEAN IN ENGLISH?

first language

First language

A first language is the language a person has learned from birth or within the critical period, or that a person speaks the best and so is often the basis for sociolinguistic identity. In some countries, the terms native language or mother tongue refer to the language of one's ethnic group rather than one's first language. Children brought up speaking more than one language can have more than one native language, and be bilingual. By contrast, a second language is any language that one speaks other than one's first language.

Definition of first language in the English dictionary

The definition of first language in the dictionary is a person's native language.

WORDS THAT BEGIN LIKE FIRST LANGUAGE

first floor
first form
first four ships
first fruits
first grade
first hand
first harmonic
First International
first lady
first lieutenant
first light
first mate
First Minister
first mortgage
First Mover
first name
First Nation
first night
first offender
first officer

WORDS THAT END LIKE FIRST LANGUAGE

American sign language
artificial language
body language
command language
community language
English as a Foreign Language
English as a Second Language
formal language
high-level language
language
messuage
native language
natural language
plain language
programming language
second language
sign language
source language
speak the same language
target language
Unified Modeling Language

Synonyms and antonyms of first language in the English dictionary of synonyms

SYNONYMS

Translation of «first language» into 25 languages

TRANSLATOR
online translator

TRANSLATION OF FIRST LANGUAGE

Find out the translation of first language to 25 languages with our English multilingual translator.
The translations of first language from English to other languages presented in this section have been obtained through automatic statistical translation; where the essential translation unit is the word «first language» in English.

Translator English - Chinese

第一语言
1,325 millions of speakers

Translator English - Spanish

primera lengua
570 millions of speakers

English

first language
510 millions of speakers

Translator English - Hindi

पहली भाषा
380 millions of speakers
ar

Translator English - Arabic

اللغة الأولى
280 millions of speakers

Translator English - Russian

первый язык
278 millions of speakers

Translator English - Portuguese

primeira língua
270 millions of speakers

Translator English - Bengali

প্রথম ভাষা
260 millions of speakers

Translator English - French

première langue
220 millions of speakers

Translator English - Malay

Bahasa pertama
190 millions of speakers

Translator English - German

erste Sprache
180 millions of speakers

Translator English - Japanese

第一言語
130 millions of speakers

Translator English - Korean

첫번째 언어
85 millions of speakers

Translator English - Javanese

Basa pisanan
85 millions of speakers
vi

Translator English - Vietnamese

ngôn ngữ đầu tiên
80 millions of speakers

Translator English - Tamil

முதல் மொழி
75 millions of speakers

Translator English - Marathi

पहिली भाषा
75 millions of speakers

Translator English - Turkish

ilk dil
70 millions of speakers

Translator English - Italian

prima lingua
65 millions of speakers

Translator English - Polish

pierwszy język
50 millions of speakers

Translator English - Ukrainian

перша мова
40 millions of speakers

Translator English - Romanian

prima limbă
30 millions of speakers
el

Translator English - Greek

πρώτη γλώσσα
15 millions of speakers
af

Translator English - Afrikaans

eerste taal
14 millions of speakers
sv

Translator English - Swedish

modersmål
10 millions of speakers
no

Translator English - Norwegian

første språk
5 millions of speakers

Trends of use of first language

TRENDS

TENDENCIES OF USE OF THE TERM «FIRST LANGUAGE»

The term «first language» is quite widely used and occupies the 42.736 position in our list of most widely used terms in the English dictionary.
0
100%
FREQUENCY
Quite widely used
80
/100
The map shown above gives the frequency of use of the term «first language» in the different countries.
Principal search tendencies and common uses of first language
List of principal searches undertaken by users to access our English online dictionary and most widely used expressions with the word «first language».

FREQUENCY OF USE OF THE TERM «FIRST LANGUAGE» OVER TIME

The graph expresses the annual evolution of the frequency of use of the word «first language» during the past 500 years. Its implementation is based on analysing how often the term «first language» appears in digitalised printed sources in English between the year 1500 and the present day.

Examples of use in the English literature, quotes and news about first language

EXAMPLES

10 QUOTES WITH «FIRST LANGUAGE»

Famous quotes and sentences with the word first language.
1
Odette Annable
My first audition happened to be for 'Kindergarten Cop,' and I took that role. I was only starting to learn English at that point. Spanish is my first language, so they made me a speaking character in the movie. I didn't really know I was shooting a movie. I was just having a lot of fun with 30 kids my own age.
2
Odette Annable
I learned Spanish at home and, since half my family doesn't speak English, it's my first language.
3
John Boyega
My dad is a minister, and my mum is a worker with the less fortunate and the disabled. They're Nigerian natives. Their first language is Yoruba, and their second language is English.
4
Jencarlos Canela
My first language is both English and Spanish. My mom was raised in Los Angeles, so with her we spoke English, but my father was born in Cuba, so with him we spoke Spanish.
5
Bob Cousy
French was my first language.
6
Eiza Gonzalez
I studied in American school, so yes, I grew up speaking English and Spanish. Obviously, Spanish is my first language.
7
Ryan Guzman
I don't speak Spanish, and I get so much crap for it. Oddly enough, it was the first language I learned, but somehow I lost it throughout the years. I can understand pieces of it, but I don't speak it. I need to speak it. I want to teach my kids Spanish.
8
Salma Hayek
I have never denied my background or my culture. I have taught my child to embrace her Mexican heritage, to love my first language, Spanish, to learn about Mexican history, music, folk art, food, and even the Mexican candy I grew up with.
9
David Lambert
I know Spanish pretty well. I'm half-Puerto Rican - my mom is from Puerto Rico - so I have a lot of family there, and my mom's first language is Spanish. But growing up in the States, and with my dad being from the States, I'm kind of just like this white kid.
10
Denis Lavant
Physical expression was my first language: Before I was an actor, I was a dancer, an acrobat, a mime and a street performer.

10 ENGLISH BOOKS RELATING TO «FIRST LANGUAGE»

Discover the use of first language in the following bibliographical selection. Books relating to first language and brief extracts from same to provide context of its use in English literature.
1
First Language Acquisition
In this volume, Eve V. Clark takes a comprehensive look at where and when children acquire a first language. All the major findings and debates are presented in a highly readable form.
Eve V. Clark, 2009
2
First Language Lessons for the Well-trained Mind: Level 1
Offers scripted lessons for first grade teachers to help young students' develop language ability using narration, copywork, and other classical techniques.
Jessie Wise, 2010
3
Cambridge IGCSE First Language Coursebook
Written specifically for the Cambridge syllabus, this updated series provides clear and practical support for students and teachers.
Marian Cox, 2009
4
First Language Attrition
Examines linguistic aspects of the attrition or loss of first language abilities in bilinguals.
Herbert W. Seliger, Robert M. Vago, 1991
5
Language Acquisition: Studies in First Language Development
An invaluable resource for students and professionals alike with an interest in child language acquisition.
Paul Fletcher, Michael Garman, 1986
6
First Language Acquisition: Method, Description and Explanation
While the descriptive facts that are currently available on first language acquisition are central to the book, its emphasis on methodology and explanation distinguishes this text from others.
David Ingram, 1989
7
First Language Acquisition of Morphology and Syntax: ...
The papers comprising this volume focus on a broad range of acquisition phenomena (subject dislocation, structural case, word order, determiners, pronouns, quantifiers and logical words) from different languages and language combinations.
Pedro Guijarro Fuentes, María Pilar Larrañaga, John Clibbens, 2008
8
First Language English: Igcse Workbook
Matches the requirements of the 2005 University of Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) syllabus. Written by an experienced IGCSE teacher and examiner and endorsed by CIE, ensuring an up to date and comprehensive resource.
Marian Cox, 2003
9
First Language Attrition: Interdisciplinary Perspectives on ...
This volume provides a state-of-the-art treatment of research on language attrition, the non-pathological loss of a language through lack of exposure.
Monika S. Schmid, 2004
10
First Language Lessons: For the Well-Trained Mind
A simple-to-use, scripted workbook to grammar and composition that accompanies the First Language Lessons for the Well-Trained Mind, Level 4 textbook and makes successful teaching easy—for both parents and students.
Jessie Wise, Sara Buffington, 2008

10 NEWS ITEMS WHICH INCLUDE THE TERM «FIRST LANGUAGE»

Find out what the national and international press are talking about and how the term first language is used in the context of the following news items.
1
Tutor teaches American Sign Language and deaf culture
Hard of hearing from birth, Sherri Thornton's first language was Exact Sign Language (ESL), a manual communication that strives to be an ... «Manteca Bulletin, Jul 15»
2
Vasilatos named interim principal at Mattie Lively
Some of Mattie Lively's student subgroups, based on ethnicity, disabilities, economic disadvantages or speaking a first language other than ... «Statesboro Herald, Jul 15»
3
Newcomer to be Hillsborough school district's new No. 2
Sometimes I feel I'm a little inferior to my colleagues because English is not my first language. That feeling of inferiority makes me want to excel ... «TBO.com, Jul 15»
4
Gail Simone Talks Spearheading A Company-Wide Crossover Event
He wrote me this beautiful letter that I treasure, English is not his first language, and it's about how much sheer fun he's having. I keep asking if I ... «Bleeding Cool News, Jul 15»
5
Miss USA 2015 Contestant Photos: Meet 51 Beauty Queens Hoping …
Her first language was Polish, so as a child it was a challenge for her to speak English. While in the ESOL program she pushed herself to learn ... «Latin Times, Jul 15»
6
Franco-American community frustrated by Paul LePage's remarks
LePage, a native of Lewiston, home to the state's largest population of Franco-Americans, said French is his first language. He has used it in ... «Lewiston Sun Journal, Jul 15»
7
PICTURES: Teacher leaves Box Hill School after 33 years in a …
For instance a lot of them come from other countries and English isn't necessarily their first language. "We're very much their stand-in parents ... «Dorking and Leatherhead Advertiser, Jul 15»
8
Court upholds man's convictions for his part in murders of Brazilian …
... accuracy of Thoan's affidavit, given that his conversation with Goncalves-Santos was in English, which is not a first language for either man. «Omaha World-Herald, Jul 15»
9
23 Jump Street: How Seattle's Taijuan Walker and St. Louis's Carlos …
... and Walker, who turns 23 next month, don't play in the same league, come from the same country, or speak the same first language, but their ... «Grantland, Jul 15»
10
Health care often a struggle for Alberta's aboriginal people, says …
Both Francis and his primary caregiver - his common-law partner Florence Youngchief - speak Cree as a first language. Alberta Health ... «CBC.ca, Jul 15»

REFERENCE
« EDUCALINGO. First language [online]. Available <https://educalingo.com/en/dic-en/first-language>. Apr 2024 ».
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