Thesaurus results for MOTHER TONGUES

mother tongues

noun

plural of mother tongue

as in languages

the stock of words, pronunciation, and grammar used by a people as their basic means of communication although the anthropologist could speak the local language fairly well, she was always glad to find someone who shared her mother tongue

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of mother tongues Work with people of different ages, backgrounds, perspectives, and mother tongues. — Rachel Konrad, Time, 9 Dec. 2025 Each actress nails the comedic timing – and the accented English that flows with the cadence of their mother tongues. — Elizabeth B. Kim, Cincinnati Enquirer, 7 Nov. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for mother tongues

Noun

Xavi speaks six languages and has lived in some of the world’s most iconic cities.

— Jay Harris, New York Times, 22 July 2026
Diversity also emerges as a key strength, with the World Cup showcasing a rich tapestry of cultures and languages, a value 80% of organizations still champion.

— Kate Wieczorek, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026

Definition of languages

Noun

The human tongues were immediately loosened by AI’s boldness and began correcting, nuancing, and leveling up the detail.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 July 2026
From the moment any combination of sugar, fat, dairy and/or dough first touched our tongues, we were hooked.

— Isidoro Rodriguez, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026

Definition of tongues

Noun

On the one hand, the translation serves as a source for the idioms of nineteenth-century English; on the other, as evidence of the ideas that the translator held about a Colombian woman writer.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 July 2026
The film’s look is inspired by ink wash paintings and wood blocks, moving fluidly between different visual idioms.

— Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 1 July 2026

Definition of idioms

Noun

Korea and China just demonstrated, in their very different dialects, that friction can be deliberately put back.

— Jason Snyder, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
In India, the book Why Tibet Matters has been translated into 15 local dialects to galvanize solidarity among the host community.

— Charlie Campbell, Time, 9 July 2026

Definition of dialects

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mother tongue

mother tongues

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“Mother tongues.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mother%20tongues. Accessed 24 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of mother tongues

noun

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