How do you use "mother tongue" in a sentence?

Her mother tongue is Mandarin, but she speaks fluent English. It's always easier to express emotions in your mother tongue. He teaches English but his mother tongue is Portuguese.

mother tongue

Q: What does "mother tongue" mean?

A person's first or native language We say 'mother tongue' not 'mother language' or 'birth language'. This is a fixed compound noun referring to the language learned from birth, associated with the mother as first teacher.

Collocation BritishAmericanAustralian ★★★★☆ Common Neutral

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Meaning: A person's first or native language

母语

lengua materna

母語

모국어

We say 'mother tongue' not 'mother language' or 'birth language'. This is a fixed compound noun referring to the language learned from birth, associated with the mother as first teacher.

我们说'mother tongue'而不是'mother language'或'birth language'。这是一个固定复合名词，指从出生起学习的语言，与母亲作为第一位老师的概念相关。

Decimos 'mother tongue' y no 'mother language' ni 'birth language'. Es un sustantivo compuesto fijo que se refiere al idioma aprendido desde el nacimiento, asociado con la madre como primera maestra.

「mother tongue」と言い、「mother language」や「birth language」とは言いません。これは生まれた時から学ぶ言語を指す固定複合名詞で、母親が最初の先生であるという概念に関連しています。

'mother language'나 'birth language'가 아닌 'mother tongue'라고 합니다. 이것은 태어나면서부터 배운 언어를 가리키는 고정된 복합 명사로, 어머니를 첫 번째 선생님으로 연상시킵니다.

Examples

Her mother tongue is Mandarin, but she speaks fluent English.
她的母语是中文，但她英语说得很流利。
Su lengua materna es el mandarín, pero habla inglés con fluidez.
彼女の母語は中国語ですが、英語を流暢に話します。
그녀의 모국어는 중국어이지만, 영어를 유창하게 합니다.
It's always easier to express emotions in your mother tongue.
用母语表达情感总是更容易。
Siempre es más fácil expresar emociones en tu lengua materna.
母語で感情を表現する方がいつも簡単です。
모국어로 감정을 표현하는 것이 항상 더 쉽습니다.
He teaches English but his mother tongue is Portuguese.
他教英语，但他的母语是葡萄牙语。
Enseña inglés, pero su lengua materna es el portugués.
彼は英語を教えていますが、母語はポルトガル語です。
그는 영어를 가르치지만, 모국어는 포르투갈어입니다.

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Context: language learning, linguistics, identity

Tone: descriptive

✓ Do Say

What's your mother tongue?
你的母语是什么？
¿Cuál es tu lengua materna?
母語は何ですか？
모국어가 무엇인가요?
My mother tongue is Arabic.
我的母语是阿拉伯语。
Mi lengua materna es el árabe.
母語はアラビア語です。
제 모국어는 아랍어입니다.
She speaks three languages besides her mother tongue.
她除了母语以外还会说三种语言。
Habla tres idiomas además de su lengua materna.
彼女は母語の他に3か国語を話します。
그녀는 모국어 외에 세 가지 언어를 합니다.

✗ Don't Say

What's your mother language? (use 'mother tongue' not 'mother language')
你的mother language是什么？（用'mother tongue'而不是'mother language'）
¿Cuál es tu mother language? (se usa 'mother tongue', no 'mother language')
mother languageは何ですか？（「mother language」ではなく「mother tongue」を使います）
mother language가 뭐예요? ('mother language'가 아니라 'mother tongue'를 씁니다)
What's your birth language? (use 'mother tongue' not 'birth language')
你的birth language是什么？（用'mother tongue'而不是'birth language'）
¿Cuál es tu birth language? (se usa 'mother tongue', no 'birth language')
birth languageは何ですか？（「birth language」ではなく「mother tongue」を使います）
birth language가 뭐예요? ('birth language'가 아니라 'mother tongue'를 씁니다)

Origin & History

Natural English collocation — from the idea that a child's first language is learned from the mother. Used since the 14th century.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal