Phrase guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
noun
A separate language for expressing ideas, as opposed to the vernacular (mother tongue) which is employed for everyday speech.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: mother tongue
noun
The form of language acquired through education and reading, as opposed to the dialect one grows up speaking; educated or formal language.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: mother tongue
noun
A second language that one speaks fluently.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
The language spoken by one's father, when it differs from that spoken by one's mother.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: mother tongue
History
From father + tongue (“language”), modelled after mother tongue.
