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/
Audio (UK) (file) - Rhymes: -ɒlənd
- Hyphenation: Hol‧land
Proper noun
Holland
- A region of the Netherlands formed by two provinces: North Holland and South Holland.
- (metonymically, see usage notes) The Netherlands.
- An English habitational surname from Middle English 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).
- A city in Ottawa County and Allegan County, Michigan, United States.
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 is often regarded as incorrect by Dutch people and may 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”. In the context of sports matches, people from the Netherlands do often use Holland themselves for the country as a whole.
Related terms
- Holland Arms
- Holland Park
- Hook of Holland
- New Holland
- South Holland
- Up Holland, Upholland
Translations
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See also
- Dutch
- Netherlands
Danish
Etymology
Borrowed from Dutch Holland, probably = Old Dutch holt (“wood”) + lant (“land”).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): [ˈhʌˌlanˀ]
Proper noun
Holland
- Holland (a region of the Netherlands)
- (common, sometimes proscribed) Netherlands (a country in northwestern Europe)
Synonyms
- Kongeriget Nederlandene
- Nederland
- Nederlandene
Related terms
- hollandsk
- hollænder
Dutch
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 the Dutch region.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈɦɔlɑnt/
Audio (file) - Hyphenation: Hol‧land
Proper noun
Holland n
- Holland (traditional region, the modern provinces North Holland and South Holland)
- Holland is sterk verstedelijkt.
- Holland is highly urbanised.
- In de Republiek was Holland het dominante gewest.
- Holland was the dominant province in the Dutch Republic.
- (in patriotic contexts) 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, somewhat informal, proscribed) the Netherlands as a whole
- Hij is voor zijn werk naar Holland geëmigreerd.
- He has emigrated to Holland for his job.
- Synonym: Nederland
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 a sensitive subject for 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.
- In Belgium Holland is very frequently used as a pars pro toto for the Netherlands, but this is somewhat less common in edited writing and in formal spoken language, where it may be consciously avoided.
Derived terms
- Hollander
- Hollanditis
- Holland op zijn smalst
- Hollands
- Noord-Holland
- Zuid-Holland
Descendants
- Javindo: Hollaan
- Jersey Dutch: Hôl-läänt
- → Caribbean Javanese: Holan
- → Kwinti: hollan
- → Portuguese: holanda, Holanda
- → Petjo: blandeu, blandees
German
Etymology
From Middle High German Hollant, from Old Dutch Hollant.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈhɔlant/
Audio (file)
Proper noun
Holland n (proper noun, genitive Hollands or (optionally with an article) Holland)
- Holland (region and two provinces of the Netherlands)
- 1873, Wiener Weltausstellung 1873. Special-Catalog der Ausstellung des Königreichs der Niederlande nebst einem Uebersichtsplan dieser Ausstellung, page 24:
- Die schönsten Weiden findet man in den beiden Hollanden und in Friesland.
- (please add an English translation of this quote)
- 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 [...]
- (please add an English translation of this quote)
- 1873, Wiener Weltausstellung 1873. Special-Catalog der Ausstellung des Königreichs der Niederlande nebst einem Uebersichtsplan dieser Ausstellung, page 24:
- (somewhat informal) the Netherlands (a country in Western Europe)
- 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)
Derived terms
- Holländer
- holländisch
- Holländisch
- Holland ist offen
Further reading
- “Holland” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
Icelandic
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈhɔl.lant/
Proper noun
Holland n
- the Netherlands
Declension
n-s | singular | |
---|---|---|
indefinite | ||
nominative | Holland | |
accusative | Holland | |
dative | Hollandi | |
genitive | Hollands |
Luxembourgish
Etymology
From Middle High German Hollant, from Old Dutch Hollant.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈholant/, [ˈholɑnt]
Audio (file)
Proper noun
Holland n
- the Netherlands, Holland
Synonyms
- Nidderlanden
Derived terms
- Hollänner
- hollännesch; Hollännesch
Norwegian Bokmål
Etymology
(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)
Proper noun
Holland
- (archaic) the Netherlands
- Synonym: Nederland
- Holland
Related terms
- hollender, nederlender
- hollandsk, nederlandsk
Norwegian Nynorsk
Etymology
(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)
Proper noun
Holland
- (archaic) Holland (when referring to the Netherlands, but still relates to the region of Holland)
Synonyms
- Nederland
Related terms
- nederlendar
- hollandsk, nederlandsk
Swedish
Etymology
From Dutch Holland.
Pronunciation
Audio (file)
Proper noun
Holland n (genitive Hollands)
- Holland, a region in the Netherlands. Often referring to the whole of the Netherlands.