Word
balkans
Phoneticsbalka·ns
/ˈbɔɫkənz/
Definition
n. a large area in Southeast Europe that includes many different countries and cultures. It is named after a mountain range that runs through the region.
n. a geopolitical and cultural region in Southeast Europe, defined by the Balkan Peninsula and its shared historical and social characteristics. When capitalised, it refers to the collective group of nations in this territory.
Examples
“Many tourists visit the Balkans for the beautiful mountains and history.”
“Diplomatic efforts in the Balkans often focus on regional cooperation and economic integration between neighboring states.”
“The complex history of the Balkans has been shaped by its position as a crossroads between major empires, leading to a rich but often contested cultural heritage.”
Examples
simple
“Many tourists visit the Balkans for the beautiful mountains and history.”
contextual
“Diplomatic efforts in the Balkans often focus on regional cooperation and economic integration between neighboring states.”
complex
“The complex history of the Balkans has been shaped by its position as a crossroads between major empires, leading to a rich but often contested cultural heritage.”
Usage
Always capitalised. As a pluralia tantum noun, it takes a plural verb ('The Balkans are...') and is almost always preceded by the definite article 'the'.
Real-World Examples
“The political crisis in Serbia is being closely watched across the Western Balkans.” “Southeastern Europe and the Balkans are a key region for understanding the European Neolithic.” Scan code
englishreference.com/q/balkans