What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
natively
Example
She was able to navigate the city natively because she grew up there. [natively: adverb]
Example
He speaks Spanish natively since it's his first language. [natively: adverb]
Example
This program is designed to run natively on Windows. [natively: adverb]
instinctively
Example
She instinctively knew to duck when the ball came flying towards her. [instinctively: adverb]
Example
The baby instinctively reached for his mother's hand. [instinctively: adverb]
Example
He had an instinctive understanding of how to fix the machine, even though he had no formal training. [instinctive: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Natively is less common than instinctively in everyday language. Natively is more technical and specific, while instinctively is more versatile and can be used in various contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between natively and instinctively?
Both natively and instinctively can be used in formal and informal contexts, but natively may be more formal due to its technical and specific nature.
