A– Nationality Names: referring to a person from a country

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On this page:
Referring to Nationality
Pattern 1 –an/–ian
Pattern 2 –ese
Pattern 3 –i
Pattern 4 –ish/sh/ch
Pattern Others
Common Mistakes
Practice

A – Nationality Names (Demonyms)

Referring to a person from a country

Referring to Nationality

COUNTRY	ORIGIN / LANGUAGE	THE PEOPLE	A PERSON
Use no article with a single-name country. Use the before countries with of in the name: The Repuplic of…, The United__of…, The Democratic __ of… , etc. And use the before island countries: the Philippines, the Maldives, etc. See The-Countries	Use no article before an adjective for national origin.	When referring to the national name of the people in general, no article is used. (Use plural form). When referring to the group specifically, use the before the name for the people.	Use a / an before a national noun for a person. A nationality ending in -ese sounds better as an adjective followed by a noun such as citizen, national or person.
PATTERN 1 -AN, -IAN Mexico is in North America.	Mexican chocolate is delicious. The official Mexican language is Spanish.	Mexicans are an ethnically diverse people. The Mexicans are made up of native and European immigrants.	A Mexican named Frida Kahlo was an extraordinary artist.
PATTERN 2 -ESE Japan is in the north Pacific Ocean.	Japanese economy influences the rest of the world. Japanese is spoken here.	Japanese people consist of people who are 95.5% of Japanese origin. The Japanese people have the longest life expectancy in the world.	PERSON A Japanese baseball player named Ichiro plays for the Seattle Mariners. A Japanese person, Fujita, invented a scale for rating tornado intensity. *A Japanese / A Japanese man / Two Japanese men… (woman, citizen, individual, person.)
PATTERN 3 -I Saudi Arabia is locted on the Arabian Peninsula.	Saudi (Arabian) dates are exported around the world. Arabic is spoken here.	Saudis (Saudi Arabians) speak three variations of Arabic. The Saudis come from a variety of regions.	A Saudi can receive free education. A Saudi woman can also receive an education.
PATTERN 4 -ish, sh, ch England is in northern Europe.	English tea is known around the world. English is used around the world. The English language is spoken here.	The English are proud of their history. *The Englishes/ English drink tea.	An Englishman. Two Englishmen here. An Englishman spoke to us about the history of England.
PATTERN – OTHERS Greece is in southern Europe.	The letters are Greek. Greek is spoken here.	Greeks are proud of their teams. The Greeks are the first to enter the games.	A Greek won the race.

COUNTRY

ORIGIN / LANGUAGE

THE PEOPLE

A PERSON

Use no article with a single-name country. Use the before countries with of in the name: The Repuplic of…, The United__of…, The Democratic __ of… , etc. And use the before island countries: the Philippines, the Maldives, etc. See The-Countries

Use no article before an adjective for national origin.

When referring to the national name of the people in general, no article is used. (Use plural form). When referring to the group specifically, use the before the name for the people.

Use a / an before a national noun for a person. A nationality ending in -ese sounds better as an adjective followed by a noun such as citizen, national or person.

PATTERN 1 -AN, -IAN

flag of Mexico Mexico is in North America.

Mexican chocolate Mexican chocolate is delicious.

The official Mexican language is Spanish.

The Mexicans Mexicans are an ethnically diverse people.

The Mexicans are made up of native and European immigrants.

A Mexican named Frida Kahlo was an extraordinary artist.

PATTERN 2 -ESE

flag of Japan Japan is in the north Pacific Ocean.

Japanese auto manufacturing Japanese economy influences the rest of the world.

Japanese is spoken here.

The Japanese Japanese people consist of people who are 95.5% of Japanese origin.

The Japanese people have the longest life expectancy in the world.

PERSON

Ichiro Suzuki A Japanese baseball player named Ichiro plays for the Seattle Mariners.

A Japanese person, Fujita, invented a scale for rating tornado intensity.

*A Japanese / A Japanese man / Two Japanese men… (woman, citizen, individual, person.)

PATTERN 3 -I

Saudi Arabian Flag Saudi Arabia is locted on the Arabian Peninsula.

Saudi Arabian Dates Saudi (Arabian) dates are exported around the world.

Arabic is spoken here.

Saudi Arabian People Saudis (Saudi Arabians) speak three variations of Arabic.

The Saudis come from a variety of regions.

a Saudi (Arabian) A Saudi can receive free education.

A Saudi woman can also receive an education.

PATTERN 4 -ish, sh, ch

The Union flag England is in northern Europe.

English tea is known around the world.

English is used around the world.

The English language is spoken here.

The English The English are proud of their history.

*The Englishes/ English drink tea.

An Englishman.

Two Englishmen here.

An Englishman spoke to us about the history of England.

PATTERN – OTHERS

flag of Greece Greece is in southern Europe.

thegreeks The letters are Greek.

Greek is spoken here.

thegreeks

Greeks are proud of their teams.

The Greeks are the first to enter the games.

A greek A Greek won the race.

*Yellow highlighted words are examples of incorrect usage.
Solution - lightbulb Pop-Q "Nationality" | Also see The Group

Country, Origin and People

Referring to nationality – an / - ian

Pattern 1 –an / -ian

THE COUNTRY	THE ORIGIN / CULTURE / LANGUAGE	THE PEOPLE	A PERSON
a noun	an adjective for people, culture and sometimes their language	a noncount noun (always plural)	a count noun (singular or plural)
-AN Afghanistan	Afghan (Dari Persian, Pashto, others)	the Afghans	an Afghan (Afghani is the currency)
Africa	African	the Africans	an African
Chile	Chilean	the Chileans	a Chilean
Germany	German	the Germans	a German
Jamaica	Jamaican (culture only) English / Creole	the Jamaicans	a Jamaican
Mexico	Mexican	the Mexicans	a Mexican
Monaco	Mongasque / Monacan / French, Monégasque (lang.)	Mongasque / Monacan	a Mongasque / Monacan
Morocco	Moroccan	the Moroccans	a Moroccan
Palau	Palauan	the Palauans	a Palauan
Tonga	Tongan	the Tongans	a Tongan
United States of America	American (culture only)	the Americans, U.S. Americans	an American, a U.S. American
Venezuela	Venezuela	the Venezuela	a Venezuelan
-IAN Argentina	Argentinean	the Argentineans / the Argentines	an Argentinean / Argentine
Austria	Austrian	the Austrians	an Austrian
Australia	Australian	the Australians	an Australian / Aussie
Belgium	Belgian	the Belgians	a Belgian
Brazil	Brazilian	the Brazilians	a Brazilian
Cambodia	Cambodian	the Cambodians	a Cambodian
Canada	Canadian	the Canadians	a Canadian
Colombia	Colombian	the Colombian	a Colombian
Croatia	Croatian	the Croats, Croatians	a Croat, a Croatian
El Salvador	Salvadoran	the Salvadorans, Salvadorians	a Salvadoran, Salvadorian
Hungary	Hungarian	the Hungarians	a Hungarian
India	Indian	the Indians	an Indian
Indonesia	Indonesian	the Indonesians	an Indonesian
Iran	Iranian	the Iranians	an Iranian
Norway	Norwegian	the Norwegians	a Norwegian
Peru	Peruvian	the Peruvians	a Peruvian
Rumania	Rumanian	the Rumanians	a Rumanian
Russia	Russian	the Russians	a Russian
Saudi Arabia	Saudi, Saudi Arabian	the Saudis, the Saudi Arabians	a Saudi, a Saudi Arabian
Tunisia	Tunisian	the Tunisians	a Tunisian
Ukraine	Ukrainian	the Ukrainians	a Ukrainian

Country, Origin and People

Referring to nationality – ese

Pattern 2 – ese

COUNTRY	ORIGIN / CULTURE / LANGUAGE	THE PEOPLE	A PERSON
a noun	an adjective for people, culture and sometimes their language	a noun (plural)	a count noun (singular) Use this form as an adjective with a noun such as: citizen, national, or person.
Burma He is from Burma.	Burmese He is Burmese.	the Burmese The Burmese are a strong people.	a Burmese (person)
China	Chinese	the Chinese	a Chinese (person)
Portugal	Portuguese	the Portuguese	a Portuguese (person)
Japan	Japanese	the Japanese	a Japanese (person)
Lebanon	Lebanese	the Lebanese	a Lebanese (person)
Sudan	Sudanese	the Sudanese	a Sudanese (person)
Taiwan	Taiwanese	the Taiwanese	a Taiwanese person
Vietnam	Vietnamese	the Vietnamese	a Vietnamese (person)

Country, Origin and People

Referring to nationality – -i

Pattern 3 –i

THE COUNTRY	THE ORIGIN / CULTURE / LANGUAGE	THE PEOPLE	A PERSON
a noun	an adjective for people, culture and often language	a noncount noun (always plural)	a count noun (singular or plural)
Bangladesh	Bangladesh(i)	the Bangladeshi	a Bangladeshi
Iraq	Iraqi	the Iraqis	an Iraqi
Israel	Israeli	the Israelis	an Israeli
Pakistan	Pakistani	the Pakistanis	a Pakistani
Saudi Arabia	Saudi, Saudi Arabian	the Saudis, the Saudi Arabians	a Saudi, a Saudi Arabian
The United Arab Emirates	Emirian, Emirati	the Emirian, the Emirati	an Emirian, an Emirati
Yemen	Yemeni, Yemenite	the Yemenis	a Yemeni

Country, Origin and People

Referring to nationality – -ish / -man, -woman

Pattern 4 –ish, -sh, -ch / -man, -woman

THE COUNTRY	THE ORIGIN / CULTURE / LANGUAGE	THE PEOPLE	A PERSON
a noun	an adjective for people, culture and often language	a noncount noun (always plural)	a count noun (singular or plural)
England	English	the English	two Englishmen / Englishwomen
France	French	the French	a Frenchman/ Frenchwoman
Holland	Dutch	the Dutch	a Dutchman/ Dutchwoman
Ireland	Irish	the Irish	an Irishman/ Irishwoman
Wales	Welsh	the Welsh	a Welshman/ Welshwoman

Country, Origin and People

Referring to nationality – others

Others

THE COUNTRY	THE ORIGIN / CULTURE / LANGUAGE	THE PEOPLE	A PERSON
a noun	an adjective for people, culture and often language	a noncount noun (always plural)	a count noun (singular or plural)
Argentina	Argentinean	the Argentineans / Argentines	an Argentinean / Argentine
Bangladesh	Bangladesh(i)	the Bangladeshi	a Bangladeshi
Croatia	Croatian	the Croats	a Croat
the Czech Republic	Czech	the Czechs	a Czech
Denmark	Danish	the Danes	a Dane
Finland	Finnish	the Finns	a Finn
Greece	Greek	the Greeks	a Greek
Hong Kong	English / Cantonese	Citizens of Hong Kong	a citizen of Hong Kong (Hong Konger)
Iceland	Icelandic	the Icelanders	an Icelander
Iraq	Iraqi	the Iraqis	an Iraqi
Israel	Israeli	the Israelis	an Israeli
Liechtenstein	Liechtensteiner	the Liechtensteiners	a Liechtensteiner
the Philippines	Philippine	the Filipinos	a Filipino / a Filipina
Poland	Polish	the Poles	a Pole
Saudi Arabia	Saudi, Saudi Arabian	the Saudis, the Saudi Arabians	a Saudi, a Saudi Arabian
Scotland	Scottish	the Scots	a Scot
Serbia	Serbian	the Serbs	a Serb
The Slovak Republic	Slovak	the Slovaks	a Slovak
Spain	Spanish	the Spaniards	a Spaniard
Sweden	Swedish	the Swedes	a Swede
Switzerland	Swiss	the Swiss (no plural)	a Swiss
Thailand	Thai	the Thais	a Thai
The United Arab Emirates	Emirian, Emirati	the Emirian, the Emirati	an Emirian, an Emirati
Turkey	Turkish	the Turks	a Turk
Uzbekistan	Uzbek	the Uzbek	an Uzbek / Uzbeki
Yemen	Yemeni, Yemenite	the Yemenis	a Yemeni
Yugoslavia	Yugoslav	the Yugoslavs	a Yugoslav

Common Mistakes

Errors and Solutions

ERROR	SOLUTION
*One neighbor is a Turk and the other is an English. (noun)	One neighbor is a Turk and the other is an Englishman. (noun)
*The Englishes colonized North America.	The English colonized North America.
English built the Titanic and the Queen Mary. ships	The English built the Titanic and the Queen Mary.
*One neighbor is a Irishman and the other is a Chinaman. (not used anymore)	One neighbor is an Irishman and the other is a Chinese national or citizen / is from China. (noun) A Chinese sounds awkward. Adding a noun such as citizen, national, person, etc is a quick fix. National names for people change through time. It is best to look the name up: Hong Konger, Taiwaner, Argentine, etc. Google "demonyms"

Practice 1

Title

Select the response from the list that best completes the sentence.
Compare your response to the answer by clicking the "check" button.

In my class, there are a lot of students.

Feedback 1

One is .

Feedback 2

Another one is .

Feedback 3

Another student is from Thailand. He is .

Feedback 4

There is also from Madrid.

Feedback 5

In addition, there is from Istanbul.

Feedback 6

In my class, we have a few .

Feedback 7

There is .

Feedback 8

Next to me sits a girl who is .

Feedback 9

10.

One student is from Australia. She is .

Feedback 10

11.

Another student is from Holland. He is .

Feedback 11

12.

The student giving a speech is from the Islands of Palau. She is .

Feedback 12

13.

The student who is absent to day is .

Feedback 13

14.

The teaching assistant is from the United Arab Emirates. He is .

Feedback 14

15.

There are two new students from Afghanistan. They are .

Feedback 15

16.

They sit next to the student from Iraq. She is .

Feedback 16

17.

We also have one person from Croatia. He is a .

Feedback 17

18.

We had a student from Malta, but this returned to his country.

Feedback 18

19.

We also had a student from Uzbekistan. He was an .

Feedback 19

20.

My teacher is a delightful .

Feedback 20

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PRACTICE ON POINTS OF ENGLISH GRAMMAR

A – Nationality Names (Demonyms)

Referring to a person from a country

Referring to Nationality

Country, Origin and People

Referring to nationality – an / - ian

Pattern 1 –an / -ian

Country, Origin and People

Referring to nationality – ese

Pattern 2 – ese

Country, Origin and People

Referring to nationality – -i

Pattern 3 –i

Country, Origin and People

Referring to nationality – -ish / -man, -woman

Pattern 4 –ish, -sh, -ch / -man, -woman

Country, Origin and People

Referring to nationality – others

Others

Common Mistakes

Errors and Solutions

Practice 1

Title