native
gb/nˈeɪtɪv/ us/nˈeɪtɪv/
A2
English
~ 2300
Senses
0 senses
adjective
A2
property
1
Born in a specific place
Born in a certain place or country.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is native to [a place]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'native' with 'resident'; 'native' implies birth in a place, while 'resident' means living there now.
Synonyms
local (Refers to someone from a place, but may not imply birth there.)
Antonyms
foreign (Refers to someone from another place or country.)
Collocations
native speaker
|native population
|native country
|native language
|native land
Themes
identity
|geography
|culture
|travel
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She is a native New Yorker.
- Many native citizens speak the language fluently.
- He is native to this island.
Learner examples
- I am a native of this city.
- She is native to Canada.
- He is a native speaker of Spanish.
Noun
A2
entity
2
Person from a specific place
Someone who was born in a certain place or country.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is a native of [a place]
Common mistake:
Learners may use 'native' for any resident, but it usually means someone born there.
Synonyms
inhabitant (General term for someone living in a place; does not require birth there.)
Antonyms
foreigner (A person from another country or place.)
Collocations
natives of the island
|local natives
|native peoples
Themes
identity
|geography
|travel
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The natives of the region are known for their hospitality.
- She is a native of Paris.
- The island's natives have lived here for centuries.
Learner examples
- I am a native of this town.
- He is a native of Japan.
- The natives are friendly.
adjective
B1
property
3
Naturally found in a place
Growing or living naturally in a certain place.
Usage pattern:
[something] is native to [a place]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'native' with 'naturalized'; 'naturalized' means introduced and adapted, not originally from there.
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.)
Collocations
native species
|native plant
|native animal
Themes
nature
|environment
|science
Examples
- The kangaroo is native to Australia.
- These plants are native to the Mediterranean region.
- Many native species are endangered.
Learner examples
- The panda is native to China.
- This flower is native to Asia.
- Wolves are native to this forest.
adjective
A2
property
4
Relating to first language
About the language you learn as a child at home.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is a native [language] speaker
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say 'original language' instead of 'native language', which sounds odd in English.
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.)
Collocations
native tongue
|native speaker
Themes
language
|education
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She is a native English speaker.
- His native tongue is Spanish.
- They spoke to me in my native language.
Learner examples
- My native language is Korean.
- He is a native French speaker.
- She speaks her native tongue at home.
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.