Ways to say it
| Italian | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| paese | /paˈe.ze/ | masculine |
| nazione | /natˈt͡sjo.ne/ | feminine |
| patria | /ˈpa.trja/ /ˈpa.tri.a/ |
feminine |
| stato | /ˈsta.to/ | masculine |
Which one should you use?
paese is the most common word for a small town or village. For the concept of a nation, use nazione when referring to the political or cultural identity of a people, rather than the physical territory. If you are referring to the country as a political and legal entity (the State), use stato. To express an emotional or patriotic connection to one's native land, use patria.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of the masculine noun paese is paesi. The plural form of the feminine noun nazione is nazioni, and the plural form of the masculine noun stato is stati.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced /paˈe.ze/. It has 3 syllables, with the stress on 2 of 3.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often use paese to mean 'countryside', but paese refers to a nation or a town. Use campagna for the countryside.
Did you know?
- The word paese is a cognate of the English word 'pagan', as both derive from the Latin pāgus meaning a 'district' or 'village'.
- In Italy, calling a city a paese can be a subtle insult, implying that the place is small, provincial or lacking sophistication.
- The word stato is used both for 'country' as a political entity and as the past participle of the verb 'to be', meaning 'been'.
Examples in context
- È un bel paese.It's a beautiful country.This sentence shows how to use paese to describe a beautiful country.Tatoeba #6792709 by Guybrush88, translation #37758 by CK
- Amo il mio paese.I love my country.This sentence demonstrates using paese to express love for one's country.Tatoeba #2262666 by Guybrush88, translation #2262664 by CM
- È un paese libero.It's a free country.This sentence uses paese to describe a country that is free.Tatoeba #1499197 by Guybrush88, translation #2342012 by Hybrid
- L'Italia è una nazione bellissimaItaly is a beautiful country
- Gli Stati Uniti sono uno stato molto potenteThe United States is a very powerful country
- Il mio paese preferito è la FranciaMy favorite country is France
- Quella nazione ha una cultura affascinanteThat country has a fascinating culture
- Mi piace molto la mia regione, è un paese bellissimoI really like my region, it's a beautiful country
- Il Brasile è un paese molto grandeBrazil is a very large country
- L'Italia è una nazione ricca di storiaItaly is a country rich in history
- Amo viaggiare e scoprire nuovi paesiI love traveling and discovering new countries
- 835 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Martina and Alessandro are talking about their travel plans.
- MartinaIn quale paese vorresti andare, Alessandro?Which country would you like to go to, Alessandro?
- AlessandroVorrei visitare un paese lontano.I would like to visit a distant country.
- MartinaIl tuo paese d'origine è diverso?Is your home country different?
- AlessandroSì, è un paese molto diverso dal tuo.Yes, it is a very different country from yours.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “country” translations and entries paese, nazione, patria, stato, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries nazione, paese, patria, stato, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
