To emigrate is to leave a country; to immigrate is to arrive in one. The same person does both in one move — they emigrate from Ireland and immigrate to Canada. The prefixes carry it: E for exit, IM for into.
The core difference
One move, two words, depending on which end you are standing at.
- emigrate — leave: emigrated from Poland. Takes from.
- immigrate — arrive: immigrated to Australia. Takes to.
The preposition tells you
Emigrate pairs with from; immigrate pairs with to. If you can see which preposition the sentence wants, the verb follows automatically.
The third word
Migrate is neutral about direction and is used of both people and animals. Emigrant, immigrant and migrant follow the same pattern as their verbs, and choosing between them in writing about people is a matter of perspective rather than of fact.
The memory aid
Emigrate = Exit. Immigrate = Into.
Frequently asked questions
Can one person do both?
Yes — in a single move they emigrate from one country and immigrate to another.
What is the quickest test?
The preposition. Emigrate takes "from"; immigrate takes "to".
What does migrate mean?
To move, without specifying direction — used of both people and animals.