mother tongue
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.
Though Vargas’ mother was educated in the American school system, she made a point of preserving her family’s mother tongue.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 30, 2026
The Kenyan's work spanned six decades and two languages - first English, and then his mother tongue, Kikuyu.
From BBC • Dec. 31, 2025
He dropped his English name, James, and resolved to write only in the language of the Kikuyu people, his mother tongue.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 23, 2025
For Esau, not being able to speak her mother tongue was "a wound".
From Barron's • Oct. 10, 2025
For instance, although he can understand his mother tongue, and speak it fluently, he cannot read or write it with even modest proficiency.
From "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri
