philippines
n. countablen. a country in Southeast Asia made up of more than 7,000 islands. It is known for its beautiful beaches and friendly people.
n. an archipelagic country in Southeast Asia situated in the western Pacific Ocean. It consists of approximately 7,641 islands and is officially known as the Republic of the Philippines.
The Philippines is famous for its tropical weather.
Many travelers visit the Philippines to explore the coral reefs and white sand beaches of Palawan.
The Philippines serves as a vital cultural and economic bridge between East and West, reflecting a unique history of Spanish and American colonial influences integrated into its indigenous heritage.
See Name of the Philippines in Wikipedia for a complete etymology. Borrowed from French Philippines, originally from Spanish Filipinas, which was from Felipe (the name of a king of Spain). By surface analysis, Philip + -ine + -s.
Always used with the definite article 'the'. It is treated as a singular noun when referring to the country as a political entity, despite its plural form.
I visited Philippines last yearI visited the Philippines last yearThe name of the country must be preceded by the definite article 'the'.