second-language speaker

noun phrase

Meaning

A person who has acquired a language other than their native tongue, typically through formal study or immersion later in life.

Examples

  • The university offers specialized writing support for every second-language speaker enrolled in the program.
  • As a second-language speaker, he sometimes struggles with the nuances of regional idioms.

Synonyms: non-native speaker, L2 learner, bilingual, polyglot