die Muttersprache, -n
native language
Die Sprache, die man als Kind zuerst lernt und die meist zu Hause gesprochen wird.
Definition & meaning
The German word Muttersprache refers to the native language or mother tongue of a person. It is the language that a person has learned from birth or during their critical early childhood period. It is typically the language that the person speaks most fluently and in which they think, dream, and process information.
Grammar & Word origin
Grammar:
- Gender: feminine (die)
- Plural: die Muttersprachen
- Compound noun consisting of Mutter (mother) and Sprache (language).
Origin: The term is a compound word tracing back to Old High German muotersprācha. Like many languages, German uses the "mother" metaphor to describe the language transmitted by the primary caregiver or the language of one's native culture.
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
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Examples
Deutsch ist meine Muttersprache.noun
German is my native language.
Deine Muttersprache beeinflusst, wie du andere Sprachen lernst.noun
Your native language influences how you learn other languages.
Viele Menschen sprechen zwei Muttersprachen fließend.noun
Many people speak two native languages fluently.
Im Kurs durften alle ihre Muttersprache verwenden.noun
Everyone in the course was allowed to use their native language.
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