English
first language
From first + language.
A compound of first + language
Proto-Indo-European *per- ‘before’
…
Proto-Germanic *furistaz ‘first’
Proto-West Germanic *furist
Old English fyrest
Middle English first
English first
Proto-Indo-European *dn̥ǵʰwéh₂s ‘tongue, speech, language’
…
Latin lingua ‘tongue, speech, language’
Vulgar Latin *linguāticum
Old French language
Middle English langage ‘language’
English language
Today it means
noun The first language one is taught to speak; one's native language.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / first language