If someone is very proud of the country where they or their ancestors were born, they sometimes refer to it as the fatherland. The word fatherland is particularly associated with Germany.
They were willing to serve the fatherland in its hour of need.
Synonyms: homeland, motherland, old country, native land More Synonyms of fatherland
fatherland in British English
(ˈfɑːðəˌlænd)
noun
1.
a person's native country
2.
the country of a person's ancestors
fatherland in American English
(ˈfɑðərˌlænd)
noun
1.
a person's native land or country
2.
the land or country of one's ancestors
Word origin
prob. < Du vaderland, Ger vaterland
Examples of 'fatherland' in a sentence
fatherland
Everyone had zest: for years they had done nothing but police work, now again they were an army, defending the fatherland.
Harvey, John COUP D'ETAT (1990)
This range was our fatherland; among these mountains our tipis were hidden.
Spellman, Cathy Cash PAINT THE WIND (1990)
In other languages
fatherland
British English: fatherland NOUN
If someone is very proud of the country where they or their ancestors were born, they sometimes refer to it as the fatherland.
They were willing to serve the fatherland in its hour of need.
American English: fatherland
Brazilian Portuguese: pátria
Chinese: 祖国
European Spanish: patria
French: patrie
German: Vaterland
Italian: patria
Japanese: 祖国
Korean: 모국
European Portuguese: pátria
Latin American Spanish: patria
(noun)
Definition
a person's native country
They served the fatherland in its hour of need.
Synonyms
homeland
Many are planning to return to their homeland.
motherland
Central to our belief is a love for the motherland.
old country
native land
land of your birth
land of your fathers
whenua (New Zealand)
Godzone (Australian, informal)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of motherland
Definition
a person's native country
Central to our belief is a love for the motherland.