Published February 13, 2024 • Updated August 9, 2026 — By French teacher David Issokson with native audio by Marie Assel Cambier
Pays Meaning
Pays is a masculine noun meaning “country,” referring to a nation or territory. It can also mean someone’s homeland or home region. The plural is also pays: un pays, des pays.
Pays Pronunciation
⚠️ The IPA pronunciation of pays is /pe.i/. It’s a common mistake for students to pronounce pays in one syllable as “pay”. That’s wrong. Remember it’s two syllables: Pay-ee.
Pays Example Sentences
La France est un très beau pays.
France is a very beautiful country.
Ce pays est souvent associé à la joie de vivre.
This country is often associated with a joie de vivre.
Mon ami a visité plusieurs pays, notamment la France et la Suisse.
My friend has visited several countries, including France and Switzerland.
J’ai le mal du pays et je veux rentrer chez moi.
I’m homesick and want to go home.
👉 See also Les États-Unis (United States) — Are you pronouncing it correctly?
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🔗 Related words and expressions
- le pays natal — home country
- un pays étranger — a foreign country
- un pays francophone — a French-speaking country
- un pays développé — a developed country
- un pays en voie de développement — a developing country
- les Pays-Bas — the Netherlands
- le Pays basque — the Basque Country
- le mal du pays — homesickness
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