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Philippines

FIHL-ih-peenz
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Philippines (name) means a Southeast Asian island nation made up of thousands of islands, with Manila as its capital. Example: “She was born on one of the smaller islands in the Philippines.”

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A Southeast Asian island nation made up of thousands of islands, with Manila as its capital.
"She was born on one of the smaller islands in the Philippines."
"The Philippines gained independence from the United States in 1946."

How to use Philippines

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe country in Southeast Asia — use "the Philippines" with the definite article, since it refers to the whole archipelago.

Common mistake

Always keep the article: say "the Philippines," not just "Philippines," when using it as a stand-alone place name in a sentence.

Common pairings
from the Philippines the Philippine islands Filipino culture
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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

She was born on one of the smaller islands in the _____.

Etymology

Named after King Philip II of Spain (Felipe in Spanish) by Spanish explorers in the 1500s.

Origin: Spanish · First attested 1500

Class of 1500 Philippines joined the language around 1500.
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Rhymes for Philippines

nines Hines Lines Haines Raines Baines Gaines Marines Staines confines sardines guidelines
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Frequently asked questions

What does “Philippines” mean?
The word “Philippines” means a Southeast Asian island nation made up of thousands of islands, with Manila as its capital. In plain terms, the country in Southeast Asia — use "the Philippines" with the definite article, since it refers to the whole archipelago.
How do you pronounce “Philippines”?
“Philippines” is pronounced FIHL-ih-peenz (/ˈfɪl.ə.piːnz/ in IPA).
How do you use “Philippines” in a sentence?
Here is “Philippines” used in a sentence: “She was born on one of the smaller islands in the Philippines.”
What part of speech is “Philippines”?
“Philippines” is a name.
Where does the word “Philippines” come from?
The word “Philippines” dates back to around 1500 and comes from Spanish. Named after King Philip II of Spain (Felipe in Spanish) by Spanish explorers in the 1500s.
Is “Philippines” a common word?
“Philippines” is a fairly common word in modern English.
Do you say "the Philippines is" or "the Philippines are"?
Although the name ends in "s" and refers to many islands, the country is treated as a single unit, so you say "the Philippines is." It also takes the definite article "the." For example: "The Philippines is a country in Southeast Asia."
What is the difference between "Philippines" and "Filipino"?
"Philippines" is the name of the country, the Southeast Asian island nation whose capital is Manila. "Filipino" is the word for a person from that country and for its adjective and national language. So a Filipino lives in the Philippines.
What do you call someone from the Philippines?
A person from the Philippines is called a Filipino. The form "Filipina" is often used for a woman, and "Filipinos" is the plural for a group. "Filipino" is also used as the adjective, as in "Filipino cuisine."
What is the capital of the Philippines?
The capital of the Philippines is Manila. The country is made up of thousands of islands in Southeast Asia.

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Vocabulary lists that include Philippines:

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