non-native speaker

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non-native speaker

Where it comes from

From non-native + speaker or non- + native speaker.

noun non-native speakers · NNS

Someone who has another native tongue than the language being used. Although double modality is outside the scope of Standard English and is not addressed in the school syllabus, it is a widespread phenomenon which non-native speakers of English might find confusing and should at least be aware of.
Similar: allophone · Opposite: native speaker

Translations

Every language

noun someone who has another native tongue than the language being used

Español	hablante no nativo
中文	非母語人士 /非母语人士 fēi-mǔyǔ rénshì
Português	falante não-nativo
Français	locuteur non-natif
Deutsch	Nichtmuttersprachler, Nichtmuttersprachlerin, Nicht-Muttersprachler, Nicht-Muttersprachlerin

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MLA

"non-native speaker." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/non-native%20speaker. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

non-native speaker. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/non-native%20speaker

Chicago

"non-native speaker." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/non-native%20speaker.

BibTeX

@misc{non_native_speaker_2026,
  title = {non-native speaker},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/non-native%20speaker},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}