motherland
gb/mˈʌðɚlˌænd/ us/mˈʌðɚlˌænd/
B2
English
haza, szülőföld, anyaország
NOUN
B2
FORMAL
1
Usage pattern:
the motherland; [someone]'s motherland
After ten years abroad, she longed to see her motherland again.
Tíz év külföld után arra vágyott, hogy újra lássa a hazáját.
In his speech, the president promised to defend the motherland against any attack.
Beszédében az elnök megígérte, hogy minden támadással szemben megvédi a hazát.
Many people felt torn between opportunities overseas and loyalty to the motherland.
Learner examples
My motherland is Brazil.
Brazília a hazám.
He wants to go back to his motherland.
Vissza akar menni a hazájába.
Common mistake:
Learners may think it refers to a mother’s property or land owned by a mother; it usually means a country (often with patriotic feeling).
Meaning
one’s native country
Collocations
the motherland
|defend the motherland
|serve the motherland
|protect the motherland
|loyal to the motherland
|love for the motherland
|return to the motherland
|the call of the motherland
|enemies of the motherland
|the motherland's borders
Synonyms
homeland (More neutral and common; less overtly political.)
|
native country (Plain and factual; emphasizes birthplace.)
|
fatherland (Similar idea, often associated with specific national traditions and rhetoric.)
Antonyms
foreign country (A country that is not your own.)
|
host country (The country where you live as a visitor or immigrant.)
Themes
countries
|politics
|identity
|history
Definition
your home country, especially when you feel proud of it
The country where someone was born or feels they belong, often spoken of with patriotic feeling.
NOUN
B2
FORMAL
2
anyaország
C1
Usage pattern:
[place] is [someone]'s motherland
Although he was born in Canada, he still called Ireland his motherland.
Bár Kanadában született, továbbra is Írországot tartotta anyaországának.
The festival helped younger generations connect with the motherland through food and music.
A fesztivál segített abban, hogy a fiatalabb nemzedékek ételen és zenén keresztül kapcsolódjanak az anyaországhoz.
She traveled to her motherland to learn the language her grandparents spoke.
Learner examples
Greece is my motherland because my family is from there.
Görögország az anyaországom, mert onnan származik a családom.
Common mistake:
Learners may assume it always means the country you were born in; it can also mean your ancestral country.
Meaning
ancestral country of origin
Collocations
ancestral motherland
|the motherland of [a people]
|visit the motherland
|a trip to the motherland
|roots in the motherland
|ties to the motherland
|connection to the motherland
|the old motherland
|the cultural motherland
|return to the motherland
Synonyms
ancestral homeland (Emphasizes family or ethnic roots.)
|
country of origin (More neutral; common in official or factual contexts.)
Antonyms
adopted country (A country you choose as home rather than inherit by birth or ancestry.)
Themes
identity
|migration
|culture
|countries
Definition
the country your family originally comes from
A country that someone considers their people’s or family’s original home, even if they were not born there.
Grammar
Dictionary form
motherland
IPA
GB/mˈʌðɚlˌænd/
US/mˈʌðɚlˌænd/
Syllables & stress
moth - er - land (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (moth)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: motherland
- Plural: motherlands
Word family
Expressions
back to the motherland
1/bˈæk tə ðə mˈʌðɚlˌænd/
fixed phrase
informal
going back home country
going to your home country again
Examples
- He’s heading back to the motherland for a family wedding.
- Every summer they go back to the motherland to visit relatives.
- She posted photos on social media with the caption 'Back to the motherland.'
Learner examples
- We are going back to the motherland.
defend the motherland
1/dɪfˈɛnd ðə mˈʌðɚlˌænd/
fixed phrase
formal
protect the country from attack
to protect your country from danger
Examples
- The general urged citizens to defend the motherland at all costs.
- The film tells the story of soldiers who defended the motherland during the invasion.
- He said he joined the army to defend the motherland.
Learner examples
- They want to defend the motherland.
for the motherland!
1/fɚ ðə mˈʌðɚlˌænd ‖/
fixed phrase
literary
patriotic rallying cry
a shout meaning “for our country!”
Examples
- In the movie, the soldiers charge forward shouting, 'For the motherland!'
- The poster used the words 'For the motherland!' to encourage enlistment.
- He repeated the slogan 'For the motherland!' in his speech.
return to the motherland
1/ɹɪtˈɚn tə ðə mˈʌðɚlˌænd/
fixed phrase
formal
go back to one’s homeland
to go back to your home country
Examples
- After retiring, they returned to the motherland to be closer to family.
- The documentary follows a singer who returns to the motherland for the first time.
- Many hoped to return to the motherland once the war ended.
Learner examples
- I want to return to the motherland next year.
serve the motherland
1/sˈɚv ðə mˈʌðɚlˌænd/
fixed phrase
formal
work for one’s country
to do work for your country (often in the army)
Examples
- She said it was her honor to serve the motherland.
- Many believed that serving the motherland meant joining the civil service.
- He left university early to serve the motherland.
Learner examples
- He wants to serve the motherland.