Pays-Bas
/pɛ.i.ba/masculine, plural
The French word for Netherlands is Pays-Bas. Wiktionary also lists Hollande.
Meaning: country in northwestern Europe (name)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Pays-Bas | /pɛ.i.ba/ /pɛ.i.bɑ/ |
masculine, plural |
| Hollande | /ɔ.lɑ̃d/ | feminine |
The term is used to refer to the country in northwestern Europe. While people often use Hollande to refer to the country, this technically only refers to two provinces within the Netherlands: North Holland and South Holland.
What does it mean word for word?
The name Pays-Bas literally translates to Low Lands.
Which one should you use?
Use Pays-Bas when referring to the entire country, whereas Hollande refers specifically to a region within the country.
How does it change in a sentence?
The name is a plural noun phrase and requires the definite article les.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /pɛ.i.ba/ and it has 3 syllables.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use the singular masculine article le instead of the plural les with Pays-Bas.
Did you know?
- The French word bas means 'low' but is also used to describe the bottom of a page or 'stockings' in clothing, adding a layer of homonymy to the name of the country.
- If you are talking about the 'Low Countries' in a historical context, French uses les Pays-Bas to refer to the entire region including Belgium and Luxembourg.
- The adjective 'Dutch' in French is néerlandais, which shares a root with the obsolete term Néerlande rather than the common word Pays-Bas.
Examples in context
- Les Pays-Bas ont-ils un roi ?Does the Netherlands have a king?This sentence is useful for asking if the Netherlands has a king using Pays-Bas.Tatoeba #8731618 by Julien_PDC, translation #8228342 by meshbags
- Les Pays-Bas sont un petit pays.The Netherlands is a small country.This sentence is useful for describing the Netherlands as a small country using Pays-Bas.Tatoeba #334951 by Barbiche0, translation #64826 by human600
- Ils parlent néerlandais aux Pays-Bas.They speak Dutch in the Netherlands.This sentence is useful for stating that Dutch is spoken in the Netherlands using Pays-Bas.Tatoeba #9151752 by Julien_PDC, translation #9151592 by megamanenm
- Je vais en vacances aux Pays-Bas cette année.I am going on vacation to the Netherlands this year.
- Le Royaume des Pays-Bas est une monarchie constitutionnelle.The Kingdom of the Netherlands is a constitutional monarchy.
- 22 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing their upcoming vacation plans.
- ManonTu veux aller aux Pays-Bas cet été ?Do you want to go to the Netherlands this summer?
- NathanOui, j'aimerais beaucoup visiter les Pays-Bas.Yes, I would really like to visit the Netherlands.
- ManonC'est une excellente idée pour ton voyage.It is an excellent idea for your trip.
- NathanMerci, Manon, je vais regarder les billets.Thanks, Manon, I am going to look at the tickets.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “netherlands” translations and entries Pays-Bas, Hollande, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
