How can I correctly refer to people based on their country? There are two main groups of countries, each with common suffixes used to form their demonyms (words for people from a place).
-ch, -sh, -ese, -ss
Plural
We can use the definite article the with a nationality adjective (e.g., French, Portuguese) to refer to all people from countries ending in -ch, -sh, -ese, or -ss.
Example
- The English like their privacy.
- The Swiss are voting on emigration again.
- The Chinese are unhappy about the new system.
Singular
While -man or -woman typically follows nationality adjectives ending in -ch, -sh, -ese, or -ss, some exceptions exist. These include using Spaniard, Dane, Finn, Scot, Pole, Swede, and Turk for a single person from their respective countries.
Example
- The Englishman sipped his tea while gazing out at the misty countryside.
- The Swede and the Turk sat together in the bustling café, sharing stories of their distant homelands.
Others
For most nationalities, the noun itself refers to a single person. To indicate all people from that country, simply add an “-s” to the noun.
Plural examples
- The Belgians are known for their excellent chocolate.
- The Brazilians were shocked after their national team’s defeat.
- The demonstrators were shouting: ‘Greece belongs to the Greeks.’
Singular examples
- Sarah was delighted to meet a Moroccan who shared her passion for traditional North African cuisine.
References