Homeland
/ˈhoʊm.lænd/noun
The country or region regarded as one's native home or place of origin.
Did you know?The word combines Germanic terms for a dwelling and inhabited territory, while its modern political force became especially prominent through ideas of the nation-state and the German Vaterland.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*kei-
“To lie, settle, or dwell; the probable ancient root behind the Germanic family of words for home.”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*haimaz
“A dwelling place, settlement, or home.”
Old English
Old English
hām
“A home, residence, village, or estate; the source of modern English home.”
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*lendʰ-
“Land or open ground; the ancient root associated with Germanic words for land.”
Old English
Old English
land
“Earth, ground, territory, or a region under cultivation.”
Middle English
English
homeland
“A compound meaning one's home country or native land.”
Modern English
English
homeland
“A person's native country or the territory associated with a people or nation.”