Heimatland
/ˈhaɪ̯maːtˌlant/
The English phrase "native country" is translated into German as Heimatland.
Heimatland is used to refer to the country one is from.
What does it mean word for word?
The word is a compound of Heimat (homeland/home) and Land (country/land).
Which one should you use?
While Heimatland refers to the country one is from, Heimat refers more broadly to the concept of "home" or "homeland", which can be a specific town or region rather than a whole country.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of Heimatland is Heimatländer.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈhaɪ̯maːtˌlant/
Did you know?
- While Heimatland is a neutral term today, the root Heimat was heavily manipulated by Nazi propaganda to justify territorial claims based on an imagined 'native' ethnic belonging.
- In German, the phrase Heimweh combines 'home' and 'pain' to describe homesickness, while Fernweh expresses a longing for far-off places.
- During the 1950s, a genre of cinema called Heimatfilm became wildly popular in Germany by depicting idealized 'native' landscapes as a way to escape the trauma of war.
Examples in context
- Ich kehre in mein Heimatland zurück.I am going back to my native country.This sentence is useful for saying you are going back to your Heimatland.Tatoeba #11910479 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #2712338 by shami
- Ich fühle den Wunsch, meine Verbindungen mit meinem Heimatland zu erneuern.I feel the desire to renew my ties with my native country.This sentence is useful for expressing a desire to renew ties with your Heimatland.Tatoeba #4903806 by al_ex_an_der, translation #4903802 by al_ex_an_der
- Ich komme aus Deutschland, meinem Heimatland.I come from Germany, my native country.
- Mein Ursprungsland ist Österreich.My native country is Austria.
- In seinem Heimatland spricht er Deutsch.In his native country, he speaks German.
Example conversation
Felix and Hannah are talking about their backgrounds.
- FelixHannah, vermisst du dein Heimatland?Hannah, do you miss your native country?
- HannahJa, Felix, ich denke oft daran.Yes, Felix, I think about it often.
- FelixWann besuchst du dein Heimatland wieder?When will you visit your native country again?
- HannahWahrscheinlich im nächsten Sommer.Probably next summer.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry Heimatland, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
