country

Everyday

1. A land with its own government, borders and people: "Canada is a big country." tree →
2. "The country" means the countryside — areas with farms and fields, outside towns. tree →
3. The people of a nation: "The whole country watched." tree →
4. Country music, a kind of music from the southern USA. tree →

In the lessons

In geography: countries have capitals, flags and borders; the UK has four countries (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland); the USA has 50 states; Australia has states and territories. In everyday life: life in the country versus the city. Phrases: in the country, home country, country music, across the country, countryside.

Examples

• Canada is the second-biggest country in the world. tree →
• Ireland is a country in Europe. tree →
• We live in the country, near a farm. tree →
• Which country were you born in? tree →
• Each country has its own flag. tree →
• The whole country cheered for the team. tree →
• New Zealand is a country of two main islands. tree →
• Grandpa likes country music. tree →

Note

Plural "countries" (y → ies). A continent is bigger than a country: Australia is both a country and a continent. Don't confuse "country" with "county" (a part of a country, like counties in Ireland or England).

In Jewish tradition

In the Prophets it also names a region, as the "hill-country" of Ephraim or Judah, a highland area of the land of Israel. In the primary lessons: In geography: countries have capitals, flags and borders; the UK has four countries (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland); the USA has 50 states; Australia has states and territories. In everyday life: life in the country versus the city. Phrases: in the country, home country, country music, across the country, countryside.

Examples

• 'The man, the lord of the land, spoke roughly with us, and took us for spies of the country. (Torah GEN.42.30, JPS 1917) tree →
• And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph to buy corn; because the famine was sore in all the earth. (Torah GEN.41.57, JPS 1917) tree →
• But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife for my son, even for Isaac.' (Torah GEN.24.4, JPS 1917) tree →
• And in the hill-country: Shamir, and Jattir, and Socoh; (Prophets JOS.15.48, JPS 1917) tree →
• Now there was a man of the hill-country of Ephraim, whose name was Micah. (Prophets JDG.17.1, JPS 1917) tree →
• And these are their names: The son of Hur, in the hill-country of Ephraim; (Prophets 1KI.4.8, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Plural "countries" (y → ies). A continent is bigger than a country: Australia is both a country and a continent. Don't confuse "country" with "county" (a part of a country, like counties in Ireland or England).