French word

nation

Pronunciation

IPA/nasjɔ̃/

Meaning

  • feminine nouncountry

Example

Il aime sa nation et sa culture.

He loves his country and its culture.

Illustration for nation (country)

More examples

La nation célèbre sa fête nationale.

The nation celebrates its national holiday.

Core concept

A human community whose shared identity gives it a sense of political unity.

Common phrases

  • défendre la nation

    defend the nation

  • la nation souveraine

    the sovereign nation

  • l'unité de la nation

    the unity of the nation

Similar words

pays: A country with defined territory and its own government.
État: The public governing system that administers a country.
nationalité: The legal status of belonging to a particular country.
peuple: A people linked by a shared culture and history.

Definition in French

Communauté humaine qui partage une langue, une histoire ou une culture et qui se reconnaît comme formant une unité politique.

Word origin

French nation derives from Latin natio, related to nasci, to be born, with the idea of people linked by common origin later broadening into community.

Usage tips

  • Nation refers to a community, while nationalité usually refers to a person's legal nationality or formal status.

Other meanings

  • peoplenoun
  • nationnoun

Related words

Word lists with this word