mother tongue

noun

1

: one's native language

2

: a language from which another language derives

Synonyms of mother tongue

• language
• vocabulary
• tongue
• dialect
• idiom

Examples of mother tongue in a Sentence

although the anthropologist could speak the local language fairly well, she was always glad to find someone who shared her mother tongue

Recent Examples on the Web

Acting was entirely new territory, but there was a comfort level in the role being Thai and her character speaking both English and her mother tongue. — José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 23 June 2026

To clarify his point, the festival regular must cite his mother tongue. — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 14 May 2026

Another novelty is a pope who speaks English as a mother tongue, something not seen for centuries. — Christopher Lamb, CNN Money, 8 May 2026

The notion of a mother tongue assumes that language functions as a common thread in families, tying parent to child. — Literary Hub, 29 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for mother tongue

• overhung
• among
• hirschsprung
• unsung
• bling
• bung
• clung
• dung
• flung
• fung
• hung
• lung

Kids Definition

mother tongue

noun

1

: one's native language

2

: a language from which another language develops