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.

It’s a really fast-moving show, and if English is not your first language, like for my parents, then it’s quite hard to follow along.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 28, 2026

She doesn’t feel comfortable speaking Spanish because she doesn’t know how to speak it anymore, even though it was her first language.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 2, 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

Martin Van Buren, the first president to be born a U.S. citizen, spoke Dutch as his first language, as did Sojourner Truth.

From Salon • Feb. 12, 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