Inklingo
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país

/pa-EES/

country

A simple, distinct, colorful shape representing the boundary of a political country, isolated on a white background.

The primary meaning of país is 'country' or 'nation' (a political entity).

país(Noun)

mA1

country

?

a nation with its own government and territory

Also:

nation

?

referring to the people and culture

,

state

?

in a political science sense

📝 In Action

¿De qué país eres?

A1

What country are you from?

México es un país con una cultura muy rica.

A1

Mexico is a country with a very rich culture.

La economía del país está creciendo.

A2

The country's economy is growing.

Hay más de veinte países que hablan español.

B1

There are more than twenty countries that speak Spanish.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • nación (nation)
  • estado (state)

Common Collocations

  • país de origen – country of origin
  • país desarrollado – developed country
  • país vecino – neighboring country
  • jefe de país – head of state (less common than 'jefe de estado')

💡 Grammar Points

Singular vs. Plural

The plural of 'país' is 'países'. Notice how the special accent mark on the 'í' goes away. This is because the stress falls there naturally in the plural form. (un país, dos países)

❌ Common Pitfalls

Pronunciation

Mistake: "Saying 'pays' as one sound, like in English 'pays'."

Correction: Say 'pa-ís', with two clear vowel sounds. The accent mark on the 'í' is a helpful reminder to stress that second sound.

⭐ Usage Tips

Using 'el' and 'un'

'País' is a masculine word, so always use 'el' (the) or 'un' (a/an) with it. For example, 'el país' or 'un país'.

An expansive view of a green, mountainous region showing rolling hills and valleys, representing a physical land or landscape.

In a more formal context, país can refer to a specific 'land' or 'region' characterized by its landscape.

país(Noun)

mB2

land

?

a region or landscape with specific characteristics

Also:

countryside

?

rural area

📝 In Action

Atravesamos un país de montañas y valles.

B2

We crossed a land of mountains and valleys.

El norte de España es un país verde y lluvioso.

B2

The north of Spain is a green and rainy land.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • tierra (land)
  • región (region)
  • paisaje (landscape)

Common Collocations

  • el país de las maravillas – wonderland

Idioms & Expressions

  • en el país de los ciegos, el tuerto es rey – In a group of incapable people, someone with even limited ability can seem like an expert.

⭐ Usage Tips

When to Use This Meaning

This use of 'país' sounds more poetic than just saying 'tierra' or 'región'. You'll mostly find it in books, descriptive writing, or songs, not as much in everyday conversation.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: país

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence uses 'país' to mean 'landscape' or 'land' rather than 'country'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

paisaje(landscape) - noun
paisano(countryman, fellow citizen) - noun
paisajismo(landscaping) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between 'país', 'nación', and 'estado'?

'País' is the most common, general word for 'country' that you'll use in everyday conversation. 'Nación' often focuses more on the people and their shared culture or identity. 'Estado' is a more formal, political term for the 'state' as a government or political entity.

Why does the accent mark on 'país' disappear in the plural 'países'?

Great question! In Spanish, the accent on 'país' is a special instruction to break up the 'ai' vowel pair and put stress on the 'i'. In the plural form, 'países', the natural rules of Spanish stress already put the emphasis on the 'í', so the special accent mark is no longer needed to give that instruction.