native
gb/nˈeɪtɪv/ us/nˈeɪtɪv/
A2
English
~ 2300
született, szülött, őshonos, anyanyelvű, anyanyelv
A2
1
született
A2
Usage pattern:
[someone] is native to [a place]
She is a native New Yorker.
Született New York-i.
Many native citizens speak the language fluently.
Sok, az országban született állampolgár folyékonyan beszéli a nyelvet.
He is native to this island.
Learner examples
I am a native of this city.
Ebben a városban születtem.
She is native to Canada.
Kanadában született.
He is a native speaker of Spanish.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'native' with 'resident'; 'native' implies birth in a place, while 'resident' means living there now.
Meaning
Born in a specific place
Collocations
native speaker
|native population
|native country
|native language
|native land
Synonyms
local (Refers to someone from a place, but may not imply birth there.)
Antonyms
foreign (Refers to someone from another place or country.)
Themes
identity
|geography
|culture
|travel
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Born in a certain place or country.
Being born in a particular place or country.
NOUN
A2
2
szülött
B2
Usage pattern:
[someone] is a native of [a place]
The natives of the region are known for their hospitality.
A régió szülöttei a vendégszeretetükről ismertek.
She is a native of Paris.
Párizs szülötte.
The island's natives have lived here for centuries.
Learner examples
I am a native of this town.
Ebben a városban születtem.
He is a native of Japan.
Japánban született.
The natives are friendly.
Common mistake:
Learners may use 'native' for any resident, but it usually means someone born there.
Meaning
Person from a specific place
Collocations
natives of the island
|local natives
|native peoples
Synonyms
inhabitant (General term for someone living in a place; does not require birth there.)
Antonyms
foreigner (A person from another country or place.)
Themes
identity
|geography
|travel
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Someone who was born in a certain place or country.
A person who was born in a particular place or country.
B1
3
őshonos
B2
Usage pattern:
[something] is native to [a place]
The kangaroo is native to Australia.
A kenguru Ausztráliában őshonos.
These plants are native to the Mediterranean region.
Ezek a növények a mediterrán térségben őshonosak.
Many native species are endangered.
Learner examples
The panda is native to China.
A panda Kínában őshonos.
This flower is native to Asia.
Ez a virág Ázsiában őshonos.
Wolves are native to this forest.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'native' with 'naturalized'; 'naturalized' means introduced and adapted, not originally from there.
Meaning
Naturally found in a place
Collocations
native species
|native plant
|native animal
Synonyms
indigenous (Often used for people, plants, or animals that are original to a place; slightly more formal.)
Antonyms
non-native (Not originally from the place mentioned.)
Themes
nature
|environment
|science
Definition
Growing or living naturally in a certain place.
Originating naturally in a specific place or environment, not introduced by humans.
A2
4
anyanyelvű
B1
anyanyelv
A2
Usage pattern:
[someone] is a native [language] speaker
She is a native English speaker.
Angol anyanyelvű.
His native tongue is Spanish.
Az anyanyelve spanyol.
They spoke to me in my native language.
Learner examples
My native language is Korean.
Az anyanyelvem koreai.
He is a native French speaker.
Francia anyanyelvű.
She speaks her native tongue at home.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say 'original language' instead of 'native language', which sounds odd in English.
Meaning
Relating to first language
Collocations
native tongue
|native speaker
Synonyms
mother-tongue (Refers specifically to the first language learned at home; less common in casual speech.)
Antonyms
second-language (A language learned after one's first language.)
Themes
language
|education
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Definition
About the language you learn as a child at home.
Relating to the first language learned from birth.
Grammar
Dictionary form
native
IPA
GB/nˈeɪtɪv/
US/nˈeɪtɪv/
Syllables & stress
nat - ive (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (nat)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: native
Noun
- Base: native
- Plural: natives
Word family
Forms
natives
noun
Related words
natively
adverb
Negative and opposite forms
non-native
adjective
Advanced or less common
nativity
noun
nativism
noun
nativist
noun
Expressions
native to
1/nˈeɪtɪv tə/
fixed phrase
Originally from a specific place
From or growing naturally in a certain place.
Examples
- The kiwi bird is native to New Zealand.
- This tree is native to South America.
native speaker
1/nˈeɪtɪv spˈikɚ/
fixed phrase
Person fluent from birth in language
Someone who learned a language as their first language from birth.
Examples
- He is a native English speaker.
- She is a native speaker of Japanese.
- Native speakers often use idioms naturally.
- We need a native speaker to check this translation.