land
/lɑnd/neuter
In Old English, the English phrase "country" is translated as land.
The word land can refer to both the physical territory and the political entity of a country.
Meaning: nation state (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The word land is a neuter noun. To express possession or "of the country", use the genitive singular form landes. The plural of land is landa.
How do you pronounce it?
/lɑnd/
Did you know?
- In legal contexts of the time, land was inextricably linked to 'bookland' (bocland), which was land held by a written charter rather than by customary law.
- The genitive form landes allows the word to function as 'of the land', a structure that is still visible in the modern English word 'landlord' or 'landsman'.
- In Old English, land was used to describe not just nations but also specific ecological zones, such as fenn-land for marshland or wudu-land for woodland.
Examples in context
- Ic ne lufie mīn land.I don't love my country.This sentence shows how to express a lack of affection for one's land.Tatoeba #13885303 by rul, translation #12945488 by rul
- Francland is wundorful land.France is a wonderful country.This sentence demonstrates how to describe a specific country as wonderful using land.Tatoeba #14049966 by rul, translation #11790620 by shekitten
- Ƿile ūser land nān-ƿiht būtan friþ.Our country wants nothing but peace.This sentence shows the use of land in a sentence regarding a country's desire for peace.Tatoeba #1350143 by SuleimanArkhyz, translation #868543 by LittleBoy
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two people discuss where they are from.
- GodricHēr is mīn land.Here is my country.
- EadgythIs þæt land micel?Is that country large?
- GodricĠēa, mīn land is micel.Yes, my country is large.
- EadgythIc lufie þīn land.I love your country.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “country” translations and entries land, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
