Defining one’s mother tongue or native language can be complex, as many people grow up speaking multiple languages from a young age. However, mother tongue typically refers to the first language a person learns and continues to be most comfortable using into adulthood. Determining which languages qualify as mother tongues globally requires analysis of speaker populations, official language policies, and complex sociolinguistic factors.
What does “mother tongue” mean?
A mother tongue, also called a first language or native language, is the language a person learns from birth. It is usually the language spoken by a child’s parents or caregivers and the language in which a person develops their initial speech and literacy abilities. For most people, their mother tongue remains the language they are most proficient in throughout their life, even if they later become fluent in other languages.
There are some key distinctions between a mother tongue and other languages a person might speak:
- Acquisition – A mother tongue is acquired naturally from early childhood immersion.
- Dominance – A person maintains mastery of their mother tongue grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation, even if other languages are later learned.
- Comfort – A mother tongue is the language in which a person feels most comfortable and can express themselves effortlessly.
For multilinguals who learn multiple languages in childhood, determining a single true “mother tongue” can be difficult. In these cases, the mother tongue is usually the language acquired first and the one that feels most native.
How many mother tongue speakers are there worldwide?
Recent statistics estimate there are over 7,000 languages currently spoken worldwide. However, just a handful of languages have over 100 million mother tongue speakers. The table below shows the estimated global speaker populations for the most widely spoken mother tongues:
| Language | Mother Tongue Speakers |
|---|---|
| Mandarin Chinese | 1.28 billion |
| Spanish | 460 million |
| English | 379 million |
| Hindi | 341 million |
| Arabic | 315 million |
| Portuguese | 203 million |
| Bengali | 200 million |
| Russian | 153 million |
| Japanese | 128 million |
| Punjabi | 118 million |
These 10 languages account for over half of the world’s population of mother tongue speakers. However, many smaller languages still thrive among far fewer speakers concentrated in specific regions or countries.
What are the most spoken mother tongues by country?
While a few languages like English and Spanish have hundreds of millions of native speakers scattered worldwide, most languages are concentrated in specific countries or regions. Some key insights on the most commonly spoken mother tongues by country include:
- 123 countries have one language spoken by the majority as a mother tongue.
- 16 countries have no majority mother tongue, but two or more shared widely.
- 4 countries have no defined official mother tongue due to very high diversity.
Below are some stand-out examples of countries with a highly dominant mother tongue language:
South Korea
Korean is spoken as a mother tongue by over 77 million people in South Korea, or nearly 100% of the national population.
Paraguay
Guarani is the mother tongue of over 87% of Paraguay’s population, or around 4.8 million native speakers nationwide.
Hungary
Nearly all of Hungary’s 9.7 million citizens speak Hungarian as their mother tongue. Overall, native speakers of Hungarian worldwide total around 13 million.
Japan
Japanese is spoken natively by 125 million people in Japan, representing over 98% of the national population. Japanese has over 128 million mother tongue speakers globally.
Turkey
Turkish dominates as the mother tongue in Turkey, with over 70 million native speakers representing around 88% of the country’s population.
How does mother tongue impact language policies?
National policies regarding official and minority languages are often influenced by mother tongue demographics. Some impacts include:
- Official languages – Countries typically designate the most spoken mother tongue as the sole or primary official language.
- Language education – Instruction in the early grades is often in the mother tongue before transitioning to second languages.
- Language preservation – Countries may take steps to protect minority mother tongues from endangerment through promotion or grants.
- Multilingualism – Countries with no dominant mother tongue tend to recognize multiple official languages.
However, official policies do not always align neatly with mother tongue usage. Many countries struggle to balance promoting dominant languages while still protecting linguistic diversity.
What factors influence mother tongue?
A country or region’s mother tongue profile is shaped by complex historical, political, and social dynamics. Key influences include:
Colonization
Colonial regimes often promoted their native language through administration, education, and cultural influence. Countries like the U.S., Brazil, and Australia saw English and Portuguese spread as mother tongues due to colonization.
Migration
Waves of voluntary or forced migration spread mother tongue languages to new regions. For example, many Africans adopted English or French as native languages after being taken to America as slaves.
Cultural assimilation
Minority groups may shift their mother tongue to match the dominant language of the surrounding culture. For example, many indigenous peoples in South America have adopted Spanish or Portuguese.
Government language policies
Official government efforts to promote or suppress languages influence mother tongue adoption. E.g. campaigns in France and Mexico actively encouraged citizens to adopt the national language.
Economic opportunity
Speakers may change their mother tongue to a language perceived as offering more educational or career benefits. English is often adopted for economic mobility.
Conclusion
Identifying the most natively spoken mother tongues globally and by country reveals complex interactions between history, demographics, policy, and culture. While a few languages like Mandarin Chinese and Spanish dominate as mother tongues, thousands more are spoken by smaller populations concentrated regionally. Language policies and social factors continue to shape which tongues people adopt from childhood as their heart languages.