ENGLISH
REFERENCE

austria

n. countable
A1 Beginner US //ˈɔstɹiə// aus·tria

n. a landlocked country in Central Europe known for its mountains and history. It is famous for its classical music and the city of Vienna.

n. a landlocked federal republic in Central Europe, bordered by eight countries. It is a sovereign state with a high-income economy and a rich cultural heritage in music and philosophy.


SIMPLE

We are planning a trip to Austria this winter.

CONTEXTUAL

Many tourists visit Austria every year to enjoy skiing in the Alps and exploring the historic streets of Vienna.

COMPLEX

As a member of the European Union, Austria maintains a policy of permanent neutrality, which has historically allowed it to serve as a diplomatic bridge between Eastern and Western Europe.

Origin

From Latin Austria, a Latinization of Old High German Ōstarrīhhi, the first element of which means "east" and stems from Proto-Germanic *austraz (“eastern”), and the second element of which is rīhhi (“realm”). See east, eastern for more. Distantly cognate to Australia: it derives from the same Proto-Indo-European root, but via Latin, where it came to mean “south” rather than “east”. Compare also Austrasia.

Usage

As a proper noun, it is always capitalized and typically used without an article.

Pitfall

I am going to the AustriaI am going to AustriaMost country names, including Austria, do not take the definite article 'the'.

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