germany

IPA/ˈdʒɜːməni/
KK[dʒˈɚməni]IPA/ˈdʒɜːrməni/

germany — noun

1. a nation located in the central part of Europe, bordered by nine countries inclu

1.nounA1
Definition

a nation located in the central part of Europe, bordered by nine countries including Denmark and France, with Berlin as its capital city.

Example

The Müller family moved to Germany for work last year.

preposition: to Germany (direction of movement)

Germany is one of the largest economies in the European Union.

subject: country as economic entity

Common collocations
  • in Germany
  • to Germany
  • from Germany
  • across Germany
  • around Germany
  • northern Germany
  • southern Germany
  • eastern Germany
  • western Germany
  • central Germany

Usage Note

Germany is a proper noun and is always written with a capital G. It is used without the definite article the in most contexts ('She lives in Germany'), except when referring to historical periods ('the Germany of the 1930s') or when modified by an adjective ('a unified Germany').

Common Mistakes

I am going to the Germany next week.
I am going to Germany next week.
country names do not normally take the definite article 'the'.
German is a beautiful country.
Germany is a beautiful country.
'German' is the nationality or language; 'Germany' is the country name.

2. the geographical area of Germany as a physical territory, defined by its locatio

2.nounB1
Definition

the geographical area of Germany as a physical territory, defined by its location between the North Sea and Baltic Sea in the north, the Alps in the south, and its nine neighbouring countries. The country covers about 357,000 square kilometres and has Berlin as its capital.

Example

Germany borders the North Sea to the northwest and the Baltic Sea to the northeast.

geographical boundaries: borders + seas

The Elbe and Rhine are two major rivers that flow through Germany.

Common collocations
  • northern Germany
  • southern Germany
  • the south of Germany
  • the whole of Germany
  • across Germany
  • throughout Germany
  • within Germany
Synonyms

Usage Note

This sense focuses on Germany as a physical and geographical territory rather than as a political or cultural entity. When giving precise geographical descriptions, phrases such as 'northern Germany', 'the south of Germany', or 'the whole of Germany' are common. The preposition 'in' is used for locations within the country ('in southern Germany'), while 'to' indicates direction ('to the north of Germany').

Common Mistakes

Germany is located at central Europe.
Germany is located in central Europe.
use 'in' for location within a region.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Germany is the standard English name for the country in central Europe. 'The Federal Republic of Germany' (Bundesrepublik Deutschland) is the official political name, used in treaties, government documents, and formal statements — learners will rarely need it in daily conversation. 'Deutschland' is the German-language name and appears in English contexts mainly in cultural references (e.g., 'Deutschlandlied', the national anthem). In everyday English, 'Germany' covers all uses: 'She is from Germany', 'the history of Germany', 'a trip to Germany'. Use 'the Federal Republic of Germany' only when discussing the post-1949 political entity, e.g., 'The Federal Republic of Germany joined NATO in 1955.'

Germany ↗the Federal Republic of GermanyDeutschland

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • visit Germany
  • live in Germany
  • move to Germany
  • travel across Germany
  • the whole of Germany

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinEnglish

The name Germany comes from the Latin word 'Germania', which the ancient Romans used to refer to the region east of the Rhine River that was inhabited by various Germanic tribes. The Roman historian Tacitus wrote a famous book about the area called 'Germania' around 98 AD. Over centuries, the Latin name passed into English as 'Germany'. The modern German name for the country is 'Deutschland', which comes from an old Germanic word meaning 'of the people'.