país
“país” means “country” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
country
Also: nation, state
📝 In Action
¿De qué país eres?
A1What country are you from?
México es un país con una cultura muy rica.
A1Mexico is a country with a very rich culture.
La economía del país está creciendo.
A2The country's economy is growing.
Hay más de veinte países que hablan español.
B1There are more than twenty countries that speak Spanish.
land
Also: countryside
📝 In Action
Atravesamos un país de montañas y valles.
B2We crossed a land of mountains and valleys.
El norte de España es un país verde y lluvioso.
B2The north of Spain is a green and rainy land.
✏️ 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▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Old French 'pays', which in turn comes from the Latin word 'pagensis'. This originally meant an inhabitant of a 'pagus'—a rural district or village. It's a cousin of the English word 'peasant'.
First recorded: 13th century
Cognates (Related words)
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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.