What does it mean word for word?
The adjective limítrofes is derived from the word límite (limit or boundary), and it means "bordering" or "bordering one another."
Which one should you use?
países limítrofes is a technical term, while países fronterizos is a common formal way to denote bordering countries and países vecinos serves as a formal alternative meaning "neighboring countries."
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The terms países limítrofes, países fronterizos and países vecinos are all considered formal. In particular, países limítrofes is a technical term often used in geography, law or official government documents.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, the phrase países fronterizos is widely used to denote bordering countries. In South American countries such as Argentina, Chile and Uruguay, it is more common to use the term países limítrofes to express this idea.
Did you know?
- The word frontera, found in países fronterizos, shares the same root as the English word 'frontier', but in Spanish it is used more commonly for the actual physical line of the border.
- In some Spanish-speaking contexts, the word vecino is used to describe countries that are geographically close but do not actually share a land border.
- While países limítrofes is a precise technical term, if you use it to describe a neighbor in a casual conversation, you might sound like a geography textbook rather than a local.
Examples in context
- En el proyecto de ley se estudiarán las relaciones comerciales con los países limítrofes / fronterizos.In the bill, commercial relations with the bordering countries will be studied.
- Belice y Guatemala son países colindantes.Belize and Guatemala are bordering countries.
- Uruguay tiene varios países limítrofes, como Argentina y Brasil.Uruguay has several bordering countries, such as Argentina and Brazil.
- Portugal y Francia son países fronterizos de España.Portugal and France are bordering countries of Spain.
- España tiene varios países limítrofes.Spain has several bordering countries.
- Debemos estudiar los países limítrofes de esta región.We must study the bordering countries of this region.
- ¿Cuáles son los países limítrofes de España?What are the bordering countries of Spain?
- El mapa muestra todos los países limítrofes.The map shows all the bordering countries.
Example conversation
Javier and María are studying geography in a library.
- Javier¿Conoces los países limítrofes de este territorio?Do you know the bordering countries of this territory?
- MaríaSí, Javier, los conozco muy bien.Yes, Javier, I know them very well.
- Javier¡Qué bueno! ¿Me puedes ayudar con la tarea?That's great! Can you help me with the homework?
- MaríaClaro que sí, cuenta conmigo.Of course, count on me.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
