German Conversation · Level 50
75 words
German word
Kanton
Pronunciation
IPA/kanˈtoːn/
Meaning
- masculine nouncanton
Example
Die Schweiz besteht aus 26 Kantonen.
Switzerland is made up of 26 cantons.
More examples
Ich arbeite im Kanton Zürich.
I work in the canton of Zurich.
Core concept
A region within a country that retains its own local political powers, like one of Switzerland's 26 governing parts.
Common phrases
im Kanton
in the canton
aus dem Kanton
from the canton
Similar words
Bundesland: A federal state in Germany or Austria with its own state government.
Gemeinde: A local municipality, such as a town or village, that provides public services.
Definition in German
Kanton bezeichnet eine innerhalb eines Landes bestehende Gebietseinheit, die eigene politische Kompetenzen haben kann.
Word origin
German Kanton comes through French canton from Italian cantone, meaning a corner or section, and developed into a term for a territorial division.
Usage tips
- Kanton is masculine, with the plural Kantone, and is especially associated with Switzerland rather than Germany's Bundesländer.
Related words
- kantonalcantonaladjective