See also: National and național

English edit

Etymology edit

From Middle French national, corresponding to nation +‎ -al.

Pronunciation edit

  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈnaʃn̩(ə)l/, /ˈnaʃn(ə)l/
  • (US) IPA(key): /ˈnæʃən(ə)l/, /ˈnæʃn(ə)l/
  • (file)
  • Rhymes: -æʃənəl

Adjective edit

national (comparative more national, superlative most national)

  1. Pertaining to a nation or country, especially as a whole; affecting, shared by, or existing throughout all of a nation. [from 16th c.]
    a national assembly · on the front page of every national newspaper
    Import tariffs were raised for the national interest.
  2. Belonging to or characteristic of a specific nation or country, as opposed to others. [from 17th c.]
    this is their national dish · our national tendency to laugh at the French
  3. (now rare) Nationalistic; patriotic. [from 17th c.]
    • 1791, James Boswell, Life of Johnson, Oxford, published 2008, page 599:
      ‘Come, come, don't deny it: they are really national. Why, now, the Adams are as liberal-minded men as any in the world: but, I don't know how it is, all their workmen are Scotch.’

Usage notes edit

See nation for notes regarding the usage of national to refer to the UK and its member states.

Derived terms edit

Translations edit

Noun edit

national (plural nationals)

  1. A subject of a nation.
    The diplomats were advised not to interact with any foreign nationals except on official duty.
  2. (usually in the plural) A tournament in which participants from all over the nation compete.
    After winning the regional tournament, the team advanced to the nationals.
  3. (usually in the plural, journalism) A national newspaper.
    • 1978, “Blondes (Have More Fun)”, performed by Rod Stewart:
      I had a crush on Bardot / Fell in love with Monroe / Read about 'em in the nationals / All the juicy little scandals

Translations edit

Further reading edit

Anagrams edit

Danish edit

Etymology edit

From New Latin nationalis.

Pronunciation edit

Adjective edit

national

  1. national, having to do with a particular country in opposition to other nations
    Antonym: international
  2. national, having to do with the whole and not only single parts of it
    Antonym: regional
  3. patriotic, having positive feelings for one's own nation

Inflection edit

Inflection of national
Positive Comparative Superlative
Indefinte common singular national 2
Indefinite neuter singular nationalt 2
Plural nationale 2
Definite attributive1 nationale
1) When an adjective is applied predicatively to something definite, the corresponding "indefinite" form is used.
2) The "indefinite" superlatives may not be used attributively.

Derived terms edit

References edit

French edit

Etymology edit

From nation +‎ -al; cf. New Latin nationalis.

Pronunciation edit

Adjective edit

national (feminine nationale, masculine plural nationaux, feminine plural nationales)

  1. national

Derived terms edit

Further reading edit

German edit

Etymology edit

Derived from Nation (nation) under the influence of French national.

Pronunciation edit

  • IPA(key): /ˌnatsi̯oˈnaːl/, [ˌna.tsjoˈnaːl], /ˈnatsi̯oˌnaːl/, [ˈna.tsjoˌnaːl]
  • (file)
  • Rhymes: -aːl

Adjective edit

national (strong nominative masculine singular nationaler, comparative nationaler, superlative am nationalsten)

  1. national (being part of a nation's identity or character)
    eine nationale Traditiona national tradition
    die nationale Sprache (≈ die Nationalsprache)the national language
    nationale Eigenartennational characteristics
  2. national (of importance for the nation as a whole)
    nationale Belangenational interests
    eine nationale Katastrophea national catastrophe
    der nationale Dialogthe national dialogue
  3. nationwide, national (covering a country, as opposed to regional and international levels; see usage note below)
    nationale Parlamente (≈ Nationalparlamente)national parliaments
    auf nationaler Ebeneon the national level
    die nationale Gesetzgebungnational legislation
  4. (moderately) nationalist
    das nationale Lagerthe nationalist camp
    Sozialismus nationaler Prägungsocialism with a nationalist imprint

Usage notes edit

  • The comparative forms are infrequent.
  • German national in the sense of “nationwide” occurs chiefly in a political context, as shown in the examples above. Its use in other contexts is often modeled on English usage: ein nationaler Gesangswettbewerb (a national singing competition). The more idiomatic German word is landesweit or, in the cases of Germany and Austria specifically, bundesweit: ein landesweiter/bundesweiter Gesangswettbewerb.

Declension edit

Derived terms edit

Further reading edit

  • national” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
  • national” in Uni Leipzig: Wortschatz-Lexikon
  • national” in Duden online