ENGLISH
REFERENCE

germany

n. uncountable
A1 Beginner US //ˈdʒɝməni// ger·many Archaic

n. a large country in central Europe. It is known for its history, engineering, and being a leader in the European Union.

n. a federal parliamentary republic in central Europe. When used in historical contexts, it refers to the various states or territories occupied by German-speaking peoples before the 1871 unification.


SIMPLE

Berlin is the capital city of Germany.

CONTEXTUAL

Many international students choose to study in Germany because of its high-quality universities and strong economy.

COMPLEX

Since its reunification in 1990, Germany has played a central role in the economic and political integration of the European continent.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle English Germanie, from Old English Germanie & Germania, from Latin Germānia (“land of the Germans”), from Germānī, a people living around and east of the Rhine first attested in the 1st century B.C.E. works of Julius Caesar and of uncertain etymology. The exonym was said by Strabo to derive from germānus (“close kin; genuine”), making it cognate with germane and german, but this seems unsupported. Attempts to derive it from Germanic or Celtic roots since the 18th century are all problematic, although it is perhaps cognate with the Old Irish gair (“neighbour”). Doublet of Germania. In reference to a medieval kingdom, English Germany is usually an anachronism using the Roman name to describe the area or calquing various Latin terms like rex Teutonicorum ("king of the Teutons"), which were often derogatory exonyms rather than formal titles.

Usage

As a proper noun, it is almost always used without an article unless modified by an adjective (e.g., 'the new Germany').

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