German word

Muttersprache

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈmʊtɐˌʃpʁaːxə/

Meaning

  • feminine nounnative language

Example

Meine Muttersprache ist Deutsch.

My native language is German.

Illustration for Muttersprache (native language)

More examples

Viele Menschen denken intuitiv in ihrer Muttersprache.

Many people intuitively think in their native language.

Core concept

A person's linguistic home base, firmly established through early everyday speech.

Common phrases

  • seine Muttersprache pflegen

    maintain his native language

  • in der Muttersprache denken

    think in one's native language

  • auf die Muttersprache zurückgreifen

    fall back on one's native language

Similar words

Erstsprache: The first language acquired in life.

Definition in German

Muttersprache nennt man die erste von den Eltern oder Bezugspersonen vermittelte Sprache, die meist als Hauptsprache fungiert.

Word origin

The German noun joins Mutter and Sprache in a transparent compound that literally means mother's language.

Usage tips

  • Muttersprache can refer to more than one language for a bilingual person, with the plural form Muttersprachen.

Other meanings

  • mother tonguenoun
  • first languagenoun

Opposites

Related words

  • Muttersprachlernative speakernoun
  • muttersprachlichnative-languageadjective

Word lists with this word