Ukraine

[norwolf]

i am really puzzled about articles for place names:
country names normally have zero articles but the USA, the Newtherlands, and so on.i can understand it.
but the Ukraine, why does it have a the?
was Ukraine a historical country? was the Ukraine a historical region?
your help will be so appreciated

[stuartnz]

I'm not a teacher, but I have been reading recently that many Ukrainian people strongly object to their country being called in English, "The Ukraine". Just as they want English to transliterate their capital the Ukrainian way, Kyiv, rather than the Russian way, Kiev, so they want English speakers to use their country's official name, which is simply "Ukraine". I'm not sure what the origins of the practice of calling it "The Ukraine" were, but it's a practice to be avoided, it seems.

[banderas]

Originally Posted by stuartnz

I'm not a teacher, but I have been reading recently that many Ukrainian people strongly object to their country being called in English, "The Ukraine". Just as they want English to transliterate their capital the Ukrainian way, Kyiv, rather than the Russian way, Kiev, so they want English speakers to use their country's official name, which is simply "Ukraine". I'm not sure what the origins of the practice of calling it "The Ukraine" were, but it's a practice to be avoided, it seems.

I agree wit Stuart. When the region formerly known as “The Ukraine” split off from the old Soviet Union, it declared its preference for dropping the article, and the country is now properly called simply “Ukraine.”
Ukraine or "the Ukraine"?

[norwolf]

Originally Posted by banderas

I agree wit Stuart. When the region formerly known as “The Ukraine” split off from the old Soviet Union, it declared its preference for dropping the article, and the country is now properly called simply “Ukraine.”
Ukraine or "the Ukraine"?

thank both of you.
i am sorry to make that mistake

[banderas]

Originally Posted by norwolf

thank both of you.
i am sorry to make that mistake

you are welcome!