Sometimes it means a nation. Sometimes it means the countryside. Sometimes it means one of the 16 federal states of Germany. When learning how to say country in German, it helps to know how flexible this word really is.

The German noun is das Land. It’s neuter, and the plural is die Länder — irregular and important. You’ll see it everywhere from maps to politics to daily life. If you’re still learning how to match nouns and articles, check out my gender video lesson.

Land is one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German, and it’s worth mastering early.

Examples in all four cases:

Nominative:
Das Land ist schön und ruhig.
The country is beautiful and quiet.

Accusative:
Ich besuche das Land im Sommer.
I visit the countryside in summer.

Dative:
Wir fahren mit dem Land-Bus.
We’re taking the rural bus.

Genitive:
Die Hauptstadt des Landes ist Berlin.
The capital of the country is Berlin.

Real-World Tips for Learners

German uses Land in several different ways:

1. A sovereign nation:

   • Ich komme aus einem anderen Land. – I come from another country.

   • Welches Land hat dir am besten gefallen? – Which country did you like best?

2. A federal state:

   • Germany is made up of 16 Bundesländer (federal states), like Bayern or Sachsen.

   • In welchem Bundesland wohnst du? – Which state do you live in?

3. The countryside / rural area:

   • Ich fahre gern aufs Land. – I like going to the countryside.

   • Das Leben auf dem Land ist ruhiger. – Life in the country is quieter.

Learner tip: The plural form Länder is used only for nations or political regions, not rural areas. Also, don’t confuse Land with die Landschaft (landscape) or die Erde (the Earth or soil). They’re related, but not interchangeable.

You’ll also see Land in compound words like:

• Ausland – foreign country

• Inland – domestic territory

• Heimatland – homeland

• Flächenland – large, rural federal state

• Landwirtschaft – agriculture

Beginner dialogue using Land:

A: Aus welchem Land kommst du?
B: Ich komme aus Spanien.
A: What country are you from?
B: I’m from Spain.

Now it’s your turn. Think of your answer and say it aloud using Land.

“Welches Land möchtest du gerne besuchen — und warum?”
Which country would you like to visit — and why?

Let yourself imagine it — and say it aloud in German.

Duden entry for “Land”

German Word of the Day
Now you know how to say country in German — and how das Land shifts meaning depending on context, from nations to nature.

Download the free illustrated PDF of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German and build a vocabulary rooted in the real world.

Ready for more German Words of the Day?
Check out Lust — and learn how to express what you feel like doing.
Or revisit Magen — and describe what’s going on inside your body.