A1 English: Learn Countries and Nationalities — A1 English vocabulary lesson by Langcom

A1 English: Learn Countries and Nationalities

Raúl Maguiña

Fondateur de Langcom | Examinateur pour les examens de Cambridge et du SIELE

septembre 6, 2026

A1📚 Vocabulaire⏱️ 4 min de lecture
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In English, countries tell us where a person or thing comes from, and nationalities describe their origin or identity. It’s important to always capitalize both countries and nationalities. For example, Spain est un pays, et Spanish is the nationality. You can say “I am from Spain” ou “I am Spanish.” Most nationalities are formed by adding a suffix to the country name, like -an (par exemple, Mexico → Mexican), -ish (par exemple, Britain → British), or -ese (par exemple, Japan → Japanese). Some are irregular, such as France → French. Understanding these basic forms helps you introduce yourself and others clearly.

Que sont les pays et les nationalités ?

A country is a nation or a land. It has its own government and borders. For example, Brazil is a country.

A nationality describes where a person is from. It is an adjective. For example, someone from Brazil est Brazilian.

  • We always write countries and nationalities with a capital letter.
  • This is different from some other languages, like Spanish.

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How Do We Use Countries and Nationalities?

You can use two main phrases to talk about where you or someone else is from:

  • Utilisation "I am from [Country]." This tells us your origin.
  • Utilisation "I am [Nationality]." This tells us your nationality.

These phrases work for other people too. For example, "She is from Japan" ou "He is Japanese."

Common Endings for Nationalities

Many nationalities follow common patterns. Learning these patterns can help you guess new nationalities.

  • -an: Many countries use this ending. Mexico → Mexican, America → American, Brazil → Brazilian.
  • -ish: This ending is common for some European countries. Britain → British, Spain → Spanish.
  • -ese: This ending is often for countries in Asia. Japan → Japanese, China → Chinese.
  • -ian: Similar to -an, but for specific countries. Russia → Russian.

Remember, some nationalities are irregular and do not follow these patterns. For example, France → French.

Common Countries and Their Nationalities
Pays Nationalité
Mexico Mexican
Japan Japanese
Russia Russian
China Chinese
Brazil Brazilian
Britain British
America American
Spain Spanish
France French
Germany German

Exemples

  • I am from Mexico. I am Mexican.
  • She is from Japan. She is Japanese.
  • He is from Russia. He is Russian.
  • We are from China. We are Chinese.
  • They are from Brazil. They are Brazilian.
  • You are from Britain. You are British.
  • Is she from America? Yes, she is American.
  • Are you from Spain? Yes, I am Spanish.

Entraînement

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Erreurs courantes chez les hispanophones

Spanish speakers often make these mistakes:

  • Not capitalizing nationalities: In Spanish, nationalities are not capitalized (e.g., espagnol). In English, they always are.
    ✗ I am spanish.
    ✓ I am Spanish.
  • Using "the" before a nationality as a personal description: In English, we don't say "I am the Spanish." We say "I am Spanish."
    ✗ He is the Mexican.
    ✓ He is Mexican.
  • Using "of" instead of "from": To talk about your country of origin, use "from."
    ✗ I am of China.
    ✓ I am from China.

Questions fréquemment posées

Why do I need to capitalize nationalities in English?

In English, all proper nouns, including names of countries and the adjectives derived from them (nationalities), are always capitalized. This is a basic rule of English grammar.

Is 'American' only for people from the USA?

Yes, in everyday English, American almost always refers to someone or something from the United States of America. While geographically North and South America are continents, the term American is specifically linked to the USA.

Can I use 'the' with nationalities?

You can use the with a nationality to refer to the people of that country as a group (e.g., the Spanish are friendly). But you do not use the when describing an individual's nationality (e.g., I am Spanish, et non I am the Spanish).

Leçons associées

À propos de l'auteur : Raúl Maguiña

Raúl Maguiña est le directeur de l'Asociación Educativa Langcom, un centre agréé de préparation à l'examen Cambridge English situé à votre pays. Fort de plus d'une décennie d'expérience dans l'enseignement des langues et les certifications internationales, il a aidé des milliers d'étudiants, d'enseignants et d'établissements d'enseignement dans 25 pays à obtenir les certifications d'anglais Cambridge, IELTS, TOEFL et Michigan.

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