Países Bajos
/paˌises ˈbaxos/masculine, plural
The English phrase 'Netherlands' is translated into Spanish as Países Bajos. Wiktionary also lists Holanda.
Meaning: country in northwestern Europe (name)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Países Bajos | /paˌises ˈbaxos/ | masculine, plural |
| Holanda | /oˈlanda/ | feminine |
The terms are used to refer to the country in northwestern Europe.
What does it mean word for word?
Países Bajos literally translates to 'Low Countries'.
Which one should you use?
Países Bajos is the official and more precise name for the country. In contrast, Holanda is often used more informally or colloquially.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Spain, Holanda is used frequently in both formal and informal contexts.
How does it change in a sentence?
Because the name is plural, you must use the masculine plural article los when referring to the country, as in los Países Bajos.
How do you pronounce it?
/paˌises ˈbaxos/
What mistakes should you avoid?
While English speakers often use Holanda to mean the entire country, in strict geographical terms, it refers only to a specific region within the Netherlands.
Did you know?
- In Spanish, the word holanda was once used specifically to describe a high-quality type of linen fabric produced in that region.
- In Spanish diplomatic and government circles, using Holanda instead of Países Bajos can be viewed as an incorrect or overly casual choice.
Examples in context
- Yo soy de Holanda.I am from the Netherlands.This sentence is useful for stating your origin using Holanda.Tatoeba #1131089 by Shishir, translation #773439 by marloncori
- La capital de Holanda es Amsterdam.The capital city of the Netherlands is Amsterdam.This sentence is useful for identifying the capital of the country using Holanda.Tatoeba #1479279 by marcelostockle, translation #522273 by CK
- ¿Cuándo vendrás a los Países Bajos?When are you coming to the Netherlands?This sentence is useful for asking about a visit to the country using Países Bajos.Tatoeba #2936877 by cueyayotl, translation #2936603 by CN
- Vivo en los Países Bajos desde hace cinco años.I have been living in the Netherlands for five years.
- Me gustaría visitar Holanda en mis próximas vacaciones.I would like to visit the Netherlands on my next vacation.
- 25 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Javier and Lucía are talking about their dream vacation.
- JavierQuiero visitar los Países Bajos este año.I want to visit the Netherlands this year.
- Lucía¡Qué buena idea! Yo también quiero ir.What a great idea! I want to go too.
- JavierPodemos ir juntos a los Países Bajos.We can go to the Netherlands together.
- LucíaPerfecto, busquemos los vuelos ahora.Perfect, let's look for flights now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “netherlands” translations and entries Países Bajos, Holanda, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Países Bajos, holanda, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
