país
/paˈis/masculine
The English word 'country' translates to Portuguese as país. Wiktionary also lists nação.
Meaning: nation state (noun)
Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| país | /paˈis/ (Brazil) /paˈiʃ/ (Rio de Janeiro) |
masculine |
| nação | /naˈsɐ̃w̃/ (Brazil) /nɐˈsɐ̃w̃/ (Portugal) |
feminine |
When referring to a nation state, you can use either país or nação.
Which one should you use?
While both relate to the concept of a country, país is the standard masculine noun used for a political entity or territory. In contrast, nação is a feminine noun that refers more specifically to the concept of a nation or a group of people.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/paˈis/
Did you know?
- The term país was borrowed into Portuguese from the French word pays, reflecting the historical influence of French administration on European legal terms.
- Portuguese speakers may use nação specifically when discussing ethnic or cultural identity, whereas país is used for passports and borders.
Examples in context
- É um belo país.It's a beautiful country.This sentence shows how to describe a beautiful país.Tatoeba #4851850 by bill, translation #37758 by CK
- Eu amo meu país.I love my country.This sentence expresses love for one's país.Tatoeba #2468671 by MarlonX19, translation #2262664 by CM
- É um país laico.It's a secular country.This sentence describes a país that is secular.Tatoeba #4045819 by MarlonX19, translation #9630804 by Nylez
- O Brasil é um belo país.Brazil is a beautiful country.
- 885 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Beatriz and Felipe are talking about traveling.
- BeatrizQual país você quer visitar?Which country do you want to visit?
- FelipeEu quero conhecer o Japão.I want to get to know Japan.
- BeatrizÉ um país muito interessante.It is a very interesting country.
- FelipeSim, eu gostaria muito de ir.Yes, I would really like to go.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “country” translations and entries país, nação, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries nação, país, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
