אֶרֶץ
éretsfeminine
The English word 'country' can be translated into Hebrew as אֶרֶץ (érets) or מְדִינָה.
Meaning: nation state (noun)
Ways to say it
| Hebrew | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| אֶרֶץ | érets | feminine |
| מְדִינָה | m'diná | feminine |
Both words refer to a country, but they are used in different contexts. Use אֶרֶץ to refer to a land, a territory or a country in a geographical, historical or poetic sense. Use מְדִינָה to refer specifically to a sovereign political entity or a nation-state.
Which one should you use?
אֶרֶץ is the general term for a land or country, whereas מְדִינָה is the political term used for a state.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
Both אֶרֶץ and מְדִינָה are feminine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
érets
Did you know?
- The word מְדִינָה comes from the root for 'measuring'. Historically, it referred to the act of surveying or measuring a plot of land to establish its boundaries.
- In modern Hebrew, if you want to say you are 'out of the country', you would use חוץ לארץ (literally 'outside the land'), which is a very common idiomatic way to describe being abroad.
- In Hebrew, the word אֶרֶץ is used for 'Earth' or 'ground' as well as 'country'. This means the same word can describe a small plot of soil or the entire planet depending on the context.
Examples in context
- הארץ שלנו יפה מאוד.Our country is very beautiful.
- המדינה הזו נמצאת במזרח אירופה.This country is located in Eastern Europe.
- כל מדינה יש לה מנהיג.Every country has a leader.
- המדינה הזו יש לה תרבות ייחודית.This country has a unique culture.
- הארץ שלנו מלאה במסעדות טובות.Our country is full of good restaurants.
- אני אוהב את המדינה הזאת.I love this country.
Example conversation
Daniel and Agur are talking about their travel plans.
- דניאל Danielלאיזו אֶרֶץ את רוצה לנסוע?Le'eizo eretz at rotza linsua?Which country do you want to travel to?
- עגור Adiאני רוצה לבקר ביפן.Ani rotza levaker be'Yapan.I want to visit Japan.
- דניאל Danielזו נשמעת כמו אֶרֶץ נהדרת.Zo nishma'et kemo eretz nehederet.That sounds like a wonderful country.
- עגור Adiכן, אני בטוחה שיהיה כיף.Ken, ani betucha she'yihiye kef.Yes, I am sure it will be fun.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “country” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
