French · Travel & Getting Around
"Country" in French: pays
le pays
Country (nation) in French is le pays, masculine. Mon pays means my country. For countryside, use la campagne—not pays. Quel pays ? asks which country.
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How to pronounce pays
Say it
peh-EE
/pɛ.i/
Pays is peh-EE, two vowels gliding: è + i. The s is usually silent in the singular.
"Country" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| le pays | the country (nation) Geography and identity. | Geography and identity. |
| mon pays | my country Personal origin. | Personal origin. |
| quel pays ? | which country? Asking origin or destination. | Asking origin or destination. |
| les pays | countries Plural list. | Plural list. |
| pays natal | home country Slightly formal. | Slightly formal. |
How to use pays in real life
- 1Travel chat
Quel pays veux-tu visiter l'année prochaine ?
Which country do you want to visit next year?
Quel pays for which country.
- 2Homesick
Je pense souvent à mon pays.
I often think about my country.
Mon pays = home nation.
- 3News
Ce pays a changé de président.
That country changed presidents.
Pays as nation-state.
Mistakes English speakers make with pays
Incorrect: J'habite à la pays.
Correct: J'habite à la campagne. / Dans mon pays…
Countryside is campagne; nation is pays.
Incorrect: La pays est grand.
Correct: Le pays est grand.
Pays is masculine.
Good to know
Pays is the country as a nation. Rural scenery is campagne. You may also hear pays for a region (le pays basque), but learners usually meet it first as country.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Talking about a trip abroad
ChatPal
C'était comment, ce pays ?
What was that country like?
You
Beau. Mais mon pays me manquait un peu.
Beautiful. But I missed my country a bit.
ChatPal
Normal après trois semaines.
Normal after three weeks.
You
Oui. La cuisine locale était top, quand même.
Yes. The local food was still amazing.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Country" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Country" in French
What is country in French?
Le pays (masculine) for a nation.
How do I say countryside?
La campagne, not pays.
How do I ask which country?
Quel pays ?
How do you pronounce pays?
Peh-EE.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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