Phrase guide

heritage language

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

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

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The language of one's ancestors, especially a language one would like to learn.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A minority language that one acquires as a first language but uses and/or is exposed to less later in life in favor of a more dominant majority language.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: human-sciences, linguistics, sciences

Examples

  • Spanish is considered a heritage language in the United States.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

17 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Hungarian: származási nyelv — the language of one's ancestors
  • Hungarian: örökségnyelv — the language of one's ancestors
  • Spanish: idioma ancestral — the language of one's ancestors
  • Spanish: idioma patrimonial — the language of one's ancestors
  • Spanish: idioma hereditario — the language of one's ancestors
  • Chinese Mandarin: 傳承語 /传承语 — a first language used less later in life
  • Chinese Mandarin: 繼承語 /继承语 — a first language used less later in life
  • Chinese Mandarin: 祖語 /祖语 (zǔyǔ) — a first language used less later in life
  • Chinese Mandarin: 祖裔語 /祖裔语 — a first language used less later in life
  • French: langue d'héritage — a first language used less later in life
  • Hungarian: származási nyelv — a first language used less later in life
  • Hungarian: örökségnyelv — a first language used less later in life
  • Portuguese: língua de herança — a first language used less later in life
  • Spanish: lengua heredada — a first language used less later in life
  • Spanish: idioma hereditario — a first language used less later in life
  • Spanish: idioma patrimonial — a first language used less later in life
  • Swedish: arvspråk — a first language used less later in life