Definition

1. Noun:
   • One's native country; the country of one's birth or ancestry: "fatherland" refers to the nation that a person considers their homeland, typically through birth or strong ancestral ties. It carries emotional and patriotic connotations.
   • A nation regarded as the origin or historical homeland of a people: It can also denote a country that is seen as the historical or ethnic origin of a group, often invoking a sense of shared heritage and identity.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • He felt a deep longing for his fatherland after years of living abroad.
  • The song is a powerful tribute to the beauty and spirit of our fatherland.
  • Many immigrants send money back to support their families in the fatherland.

Advanced Usage

• "To defend the fatherland": to protect one's native country from harm or invasion.
  • The soldiers were prepared to give their lives to defend the fatherland.
• "A call of the fatherland": a strong, often emotional, appeal to one's patriotic duty towards their homeland.
  • He answered the call of the fatherland and returned to serve during the crisis.

Variants and Related Words

• Motherland (n): A synonym with similar meaning, though sometimes with nuanced emotional or cultural differences in usage.
  • She spoke fondly of her motherland's traditions.
• Homeland (n): A more general term for one's native country.
  • Security measures were increased to protect the homeland.
• Patria (n): A literary or formal term, often from Latin roots, meaning fatherland or native land.
  • The poet wrote about his love for his patria.

Synonyms

• Native land: The country of one's birth.
• Country of origin: The nation from which a person or their family originates.

Related Idioms

• "Fatherland above all": A phrase expressing extreme patriotism, prioritizing the nation's interests above everything else.
  • Their political motto was "Fatherland above all."
• "To return to the fatherland": To go back to one's native country, often after a long absence.
  • After retiring, her dream was to return to the fatherland.

Noun

1. the country where you were born