Heritage language in bilingualism refers to a language that is passed down from one or both parents to their children, usually in an immigrant or minority language context. It is the language spoken in the family or community of origin that may be different from the dominant language(s) of the country where the individuals live. The heritage language is often connected to the person's cultural identity and is important for maintaining ties to their heritage and community. Bilingual individuals who have a heritage language typically grow up speaking both their heritage language and the dominant language(s) of the country they reside in.
