An Easy Video Guide to Saying Countries & Nationalities in English

06 April 2026

Author:

Berlitz

In Dubai and across the UAE and the Gulf, you’ll see these words and phrases show up in real - life conversations, study, and work.

Ever found yourself tongue - tied when trying to name where someone's from? Worry not - today we're taking a friendly stroll around the world to learn about countries and nationalities in English.

Whether you’re meeting guests at a Dubai hotel, networking at a business event in Abu Dhabi, or practising in a Berlitz Jumeirah Centre conversation classes, this lesson will help.

Grab your passports! (Or not. You won’t need it - we’re not literally travelling. But grab it if you’re really enthusiastic and want a prop.)Then press play on the short English video lesson taught by English language teacher Luis Chantre below. If you prefer to read, follow the video lesson summary here. Happy learning!

Countries and nationalities in English: Video lesson summary

Learning countries and nationalities in English is useful for travel, work, and everyday conversation - especially in the cosmopolitan UAE where you’ll meet people from all over the globe. If you work in hospitality, retail, or aviation around Jumeirah Beach or Dubai International Airport, correctly asking “Where are you from?” and answering clearly makes great first impressions. A few tips before we start: when the instructor says “repeat,” try to say the same thing. If it doesn’t sound right, rewind and try again. When Luis says “Now you go,” it’s your turn to respond. Practice, repeat, try again, and compare.

Nationalities in English

In English we often add the suffix - ian to form nationalities: Brazil → Brazilian Argentina → Argentinian Practice: “I am Brazilian.” - “Messi is Argentinian.” Exceptions: some nationalities don’t follow the simple - ian rule: Mexico → Mexican, not Mexic - ian Japan → Japanese, not Japanian Practice: “Chavis is Mexican.” - “Tomoko is Japanese.” (Tip for Jumeirah Centre students: use these in a roleplay for hotel check - in or concierge conversations during your English for hospitality lessons.)

Country names in English

Let’s practise a few country names: Brazil Germany Russia Examples: “Carnaval is from Brazil.” “Vodka is from Russia.” “Berlin is in Germany.”

Using articles with country names

Some country names are used with the definite article the in English: The United States of America (USA) The United Kingdom (UK) The Netherlands Examples: “Obama is from the United States of America.” “Prince Charles is from the United Kingdom.” Other country names do not use articles: Brazil, Russia, China, Italy, France. Practice these three: France, Italy, China. (Useful for business English and corporate training sessions at Jumeirah Centre where accuracy matters.)

Capitalize country names and nationalities

Remember to use capital letters for country names and nationalities in writing: France, French, Brazil, Brazilian.

Putting it into UAE context - short roleplay ideas

Hotel concierge (Dubai hotel near Jumeirah Beach): “Good evening - where are you visiting from?” / “I’m from Brazil.”

Airport check - in (Dubai International Airport): “Is this your first time in the UAE?” / “Yes - I’m Argentine.”
Corporate meeting (corporate training at Jumeirah Centre): “Which country is your client from?” / “They’re based in the United Kingdom.”

If you teach or learn at the Jumeirah Centre, these roleplays work great in conversation clubs, exam prep classes, or online classes.

Next steps & where to practise in Dubai

If you’d like to practise more: Book a placement test at the Jumeirah Centre to find the right level. Join a weekly conversation club or book private lessons for one - to - one practice. Try an online class if you prefer to learn remotely. For businesses: ask about corporate training or English for hospitality packages tailored for hotel and tourism teams. For structured practice, Berlitz UAE can help - whether you learn at our Dubai branches (Jumeirah or JLT), study on-site in DIFC, or visit our Abu Dhabi branches in Khalidiya and Khalifa. Have a great day - or, as they say in English: safe travels and happy learning!