nativo
/naˈtibo/
The Spanish word for native is nativo.
nativo is an adjective used to describe something or someone that belongs to a place by birth.
Meaning: belonging to one by birth (adj)
Which one should you use?
While nativo refers to being born in a place, the word autóctono is often used in a more technical or biological sense to describe species or people originally from a specific land.
How does it change in a sentence?
As an adjective, nativo must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. Use nativa for feminine singular nouns, nativos for masculine plural nouns and nativas for feminine plural nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
/naˈtibo/
Did you know?
- In many Spanish-speaking countries, the term nativo is avoided when referring to Indigenous peoples in favor of indígena or originario to be more respectful.
- Spanish has a linguistic 'doublet' for this word called natío, which evolved naturally from the same Latin root that nativo borrowed.
Examples in context
- No soy hablante nativo.I am not a native speaker.This sentence shows how to use nativo to say one is not a native speaker.Tatoeba #4620976 by cueyayotl, translation #4488738 by emprisdurden
- ¿Es ese tu acento nativo?Is that your native accent?This sentence uses nativo to ask about a native accent.Tatoeba #11853746 by Eremon, translation #5829469 by mailohilohi
- No soy un hablante nativo.I'm not a native speaker.This sentence uses nativo to express that one is not a native speaker.Tatoeba #9145828 by rafaeldejesus8199, translation #4620521 by CK
- Soy hablante nativa del españolI am a native Spanish speaker.
- Soy bilingüe de nacimientoI am bilingual from birth.
- Él es un hablante nativo de españolHe is a native Spanish speaker.
- Mi hermana es hablante nativa de francésMy sister is a native French speaker.
- Soy nativo de Argentina, por eso hablo españolI am a native of Argentina, that's why I speak Spanish.
- Ella es nativa de Colombia y habla español perfectamenteShe is a native of Colombia and speaks Spanish perfectly.
- ¡Buena suerte!Good luck!
- 136 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
María and Alejandro are discussing language learning at a café.
- MaríaTu español suena muy natural, ¿eres nativo?Your Spanish sounds very natural, are you a native?
- AlejandroNo, pero vivo aquí hace diez años.No, but I have lived here for ten years.
- MaríaLo dices muy bien para no ser nativo.You speak it very well for not being a native.
- AlejandroGracias, María, practico todos los días.Thank you, María, I practice every day.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry nativo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries nativo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
