mother tongue

== English == === Etymology === From Middle English mother tonge, modyr tong, equivalent to mother +‎ tongue. Compare Old Norse móðurtunga (“mother tongue”). === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈmʌð.ə ˌtʌŋ/ (General American) IPA(key): /ˈmʌð.ɚ ˌtʌŋ/ === Noun === mother tongue (plural mother tongues) The language one first learned; the language one grew up with; one's native language. Synonyms: first language, mother language, native language, native tongue, L1 Antonym: father tongue The language spoken by one’s ancestors. The language spoken by one's mother, when it differs from that spoken by one's father. Antonym: father tongue Informal speech, as opposed to educated language. Antonym: father tongue ==== Translations ==== === See also === ancestry ethnicity === Further reading === First language on Wikipedia.Wikipedia Mother tongue on Wikipedia.Wikipedia “mother tongue”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.