Holland
English
Etymology
From Old Dutch holt lant (“wood land”). A popular but false etymology holds that it is derived from hol land (“hollow land”), inspired by the low-lying geography of both the Dutch and the English region (Holland, Lincolnshire); the latter's name is derived from Old English hoh land (“spur land”).
Pronunciation
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈhɒlənd/
- (General American) enPR: hŏlʹənd, IPA(key): /ˈhɑlənd/
- Hyphenation: Hol‧land
Proper noun
Holland
- The Netherlands.
- A region of the Netherlands formed by two provinces: North Holland and South Holland.
- An English habitational surname for someone from the Netherlands, or from any of the various places in England named Holland.
- A historical region of Lincolnshire in England (also called Parts of Holland).
Usage notes
- Outside the Netherlands, and even sometimes in the Netherlands itself, the term “Holland” often refers to the Netherlands as a whole. This use can sometimes be considered insensitive, especially by residents of the other provinces of the Netherlands. It is somewhat similar to referring to the United Kingdom as “England”.
Related terms
Translations
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Danish
Synonyms
- Kongeriget Nederlandene
- Nederland
- Nederlandene
Dutch
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈɦɔlɑnt/
Audio (file)
Proper noun
Holland n
- Holland (traditional region, the modern provinces North Holland and South Holland)
- (in patriotic context) The Netherlands
- Ik hou van Holland.
- I love The Netherlands.
- When cheering for a sports team: Hup Holland hup!
- Go Netherlands go!
- (mostly in Belgium, proscribed) the Netherlands as a whole
Usage notes
People in the Netherlands generally do not call their country Holland, especially not if they live outside the two provinces of that name. It can be seen as reinforcing Hollandic political and/or cultural dominance, which might be sensitive to some, although unlikely to cause serious offence. However, the term is more widely used to mean "Netherlands" in international contexts, such as in international shipping, and it is also widespread in sports.
German
Etymology
From Middle High German Hollant, from Old Dutch Hollant.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈhɔlant/
Audio (file)
Proper noun
Holland n (genitive Hollands)
- Holland (the two provinces)
- 1885, Jahresbericht über die Leistungen auf dem Gebiete der Veterinär-Medicin. Vierter Jahrgang (Jahr 1884), page 36:
- In jenen Provinzen, besonders den beiden Hollanden und Friesland, wo sehr grosse Landesstrecken nur aus den nebeneinander gelegenen Weiden bestehen, ist [...]
- 1885, Jahresbericht über die Leistungen auf dem Gebiete der Veterinär-Medicin. Vierter Jahrgang (Jahr 1884), page 36:
- (somewhat informal) Netherlands (the country)
- Synonym: Niederlande
Usage notes
- In formal contexts, Holland referring to the whole country is now relatively rare.
- In common speech, Holland continues to be the normal word. The main reason is that the synonym Niederlande is quite long and, moreover, requires a definite article (as in English). Compare:
- Wir fahren nach Holland. (three syllables)
- Wir fahren in die Niederlande. (six syllables)
Icelandic
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈhɔl.lant/
Luxembourgish
Etymology
From Middle High German Hollant, from Old Dutch Hollant.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈholant/, [ˈholɑnt]
Synonyms
Norwegian Bokmål
Proper noun
Holland
- (archaic) Holland (when referring to the Netherlands, but still relates to the region of Holland)
Synonyms
Norwegian Nynorsk
Proper noun
Holland
- (archaic) Holland (when referring to the Netherlands, but still relates to the region of Holland)
Synonyms
Swedish
Pronunciation
Audio (file)
Proper noun
Holland n (genitive Hollands)
- Holland, a region in the Netherlands. Often referring to the whole of the Netherlands.