ENGLISH
REFERENCE

natal

adj.
C1 Advanced US //ˈneɪtəɫ// na·tal

adj. relating to the time or place of your birth. You use it to describe things connected to being born.

adj. relating to the circumstances, time, or place of birth. Often used in medical or biological contexts to describe innate characteristics or origins.


SIMPLE

The mother returned to her natal village to have the baby.

CONTEXTUAL

Sea turtles often travel thousands of miles across the ocean to return to their natal beaches to lay eggs.

COMPLEX

The hospital's natal care unit specializes in monitoring infants who experience complications during the first few days following their delivery.

Origin

From Portuguese Natal (“Christmas”), because the region in South Africa was discovered by the Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama on Christmas Day, 1497. Doublet of natal and Noel.

Usage

Typically used attributively before a noun; common in medical terms like 'prenatal' or 'postnatal'.

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