pays
/pɛ.i/masculine
The French word for country is pays. Wiktionary also lists contrée.
Meaning: nation state (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| pays | /pɛ.i/ /pe.i/ |
masculine |
| contrée | /kɔ̃.tʁe/ | feminine |
The word is used to refer to a nation-state. Depending on the context, you may also encounter terms referring to specific regions or the countryside.
Which one should you use?
Use pays when you are referring to a political nation. In contrast, contrée refers to a specific region, a territory or a stretch of land. Do not confuse pays with la campagne, which refers specifically to rural areas or the countryside.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The word pays is a masculine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
/pɛ.i/
Did you know?
- The word pays is closely related to the English word 'pagan'. Both come from the Latin pāgus, referring to a rural district or the countryside.
- The English word 'country' is actually a distant relative of the French word contrée. Both share an origin in the Latin word contrā, meaning 'opposite' or 'facing'.
- While pays is the standard term, France recognizes official sub-national territories called pays that are defined by shared geography and culture rather than political borders.
Examples in context
- Sors de mon pays.Get out of my country.This sentence uses pays to express an order to leave a country.Tatoeba #9274866 by Rovo, translation #5930421 by mailohilohi
- Notre pays a tout.Our country has everything.This sentence uses pays to describe the assets of a nation.Tatoeba #13550607 by Rovo, translation #13528732 by Aghanim
- Il trahit son pays.He betrayed his country.This sentence uses pays to describe an act of betrayal against one's nation.Tatoeba #1055595 by sacredceltic, translation #300791 by CK
- La France est un beau pays avec une histoire riche.France is a beautiful country with a rich history.
- J'adore voyager dans différents pays.I love traveling to different countries.
- La Grande-Bretagne est une grande nation.Great Britain is a great nation.
- J'aimerais visiter le pays, tu sais.I would love to visit the country, you know.
- Mon père est italien, mais mon pays natal est la France.My father is Italian, but my birth country is France.
- 841 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Gabriel and Léa are discussing travel plans.
- GabrielTu veux visiter quel pays ?Which country do you want to visit?
- LéaJ'aimerais aller dans un pays chaud.I would like to go to a warm country.
- GabrielLe Japon est un beau pays.Japan is a beautiful country.
- LéaOui, c'est un pays magnifique.Yes, it is a magnificent country.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “country” translations and entries pays, contrée, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries contrée, pays, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
