native
Meaning: Belonging to a place by birth or origin; original inhabitant of a place
Native describes something or someone associated with a place by birth or origin. It is commonly used in 'native speaker' (someone who learned a language from birth), 'native country' (one's country of birth), and 'native species' (plants or animals originally from a place). As a noun, it can refer to an original inhabitant, though this usage requires care in historical contexts.
Examples
- He's a native speaker of Japanese. 他是日语母语者。Es hablante nativo de japonés.彼は日本語のネイティブスピーカーです。그는 일본어 원어민입니다.
- The koala is native to Australia. 考拉原产于澳大利亚。El koala es nativo de Australia.コアラはオーストラリア原産です。코알라는 호주가 원산지입니다.
- She returned to her native Scotland after years abroad. 在国外多年后,她回到了故乡苏格兰。Regresó a su Escocia natal después de años en el extranjero.彼女は海外で何年も過ごした後、故郷のスコットランドに戻った。그녀는 해외에서 수년을 보낸 후 고향 스코틀랜드로 돌아왔다.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: general
Tone: neutral
Origin & History
From Latin 'nativus' meaning 'innate' or 'born', from 'natus', past participle of 'nasci' (to be born). Related to 'nature', 'nation', 'natal', and 'nascent'.
Cultural Context
Era: Modern
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
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