Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| страна́ | straná | feminine | |
| госуда́рство | gosudárstvo | neuter | |
| держа́ва | deržáva | feminine | |
| край | kraj | [kraj] (narrow) | ironic, masculine, poetic |
While all these words can relate to a nation or state, they are used in different contexts. Use страна́ to refer to a country or nation in a general sense. Use госуда́рство when discussing a political or legal entity, such as a sovereign state. Use держа́ва when referring to a great power or a state with significant influence. The word край can be used poetically to mean a land or territory. Additionally, if you are referring to the countryside, you should use adjectives such as се́льский or дереве́нский.
Which one should you use?
The term страна́ is the most common and neutral way to say 'country'. In contrast, госуда́рство is a formal term that specifically refers to the state as a legal or governmental institution. держа́ва is a more formal word used to describe a 'great power' or a highly influential sovereign state. Finally, край is a poetic or archaic term meaning 'land' or 'realm' and it can also carry an ironic tone.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
страна́ is a feminine noun, госуда́рство is a neuter noun, держа́ва is a feminine noun and край is a masculine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
straná
Did you know?
- The word госуда́рство is closely linked to the concept of a 'sovereign' or 'ruler', stemming from the same root as the word for 'lord' or 'monarch'.
- The word край literally means 'edge' or 'border', which is why it is used to describe a remote 'land' or a specific 'region'.
- The word край is used in the common idiom в крайнем случае, which means 'in the worst case' or 'as a last resort'.
Examples in context
- Моя страна – Россия.My country is Russia.
- Я представляю своё государство на конференции.I represent my country at the conference.
- Моя родина – Беларусь.My country is Belarus.
- Это место – моя новая страна.This place is my new country.
- Эта страна́ очень большая.Eta strana ochen' bol'shaya.This country is very large.
- Какая твоя любимая страна́?Kakaya tvoya lyubimaya strana?Which is your favorite country?
Sources
- Wiktionary, “country” translations and entries край, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
