first language
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
His first language was Spanish, while my excuse is that I was an altar boy, well-trained by the same priest who celebrated my wedding years later.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 28, 2026
Some were less comfortable with the possibility of false positives, since there are often autistic people, or users whose first language isn’t English, whose writing styles are stigmatized as A.I.-like.
From Slate ● Apr. 1, 2026
Colleagues who speak a number of different languages, including French, Italian, Arabic and Urdu, can help with making calls when English isn't a person's first language.
From BBC ● Feb. 21, 2026
Parents can answer questions about their child — such as in the National Survey of Children’s Health — but can be biased or misinterpret questions, especially if English isn’t their first language.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 5, 2026
My mom made sure English was the first language I spoke.
From "Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood" by Trevor Noah
