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🌍 Compendium
Grammar
DE
Deutsch — Articles with geographical names
Most country names in German are neuter and take no article, but a small group of feminine, masculine and plural countries always keep their article — which also changes the preposition you use.
1
How it works
✓ Rule
Neuter countries take no article: nach Deutschland, in Frankreich. Feminine, masculine and plural countries keep their article and use in: die Schweiz, die Türkei, der Iran, die USA, die Niederlande. For location use in + dative (in der Schweiz, im Iran, in den USA); for direction use in + accusative (in die Schweiz, in den Iran, in die USA).
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Examples
| Country | Article / type | Where to? (direction) |
|---|---|---|
| Deutschland | no article (neuter) | nach Deutschland |
| die Schweiz | feminine | in die Schweiz |
| die Türkei | feminine | in die Türkei |
| der Iran | masculine | in den Iran |
| die USA | plural | in die USA |
| die Niederlande | plural | in die Niederlande |
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Good to know
⚠ Note
A common mistake is saying nach die Schweiz. Use nach only with neuter countries without an article (nach Deutschland); for countries with an article always use in — say in die Schweiz, not nach die Schweiz.