Polish

Noun

zagranica f

1. foreign countries

Usage notes

This is a mass noun used to refer to all countries other than the speaker's country of residence. It is distinct from the phrase za granicą ‎(“abroad”). It is used in phrases such as wiadomości z kraju i zagranicy ‎(“domestic and foreign news”).

Note the following subtlety: Wróciłem z zagranicy means "I returned from abroad / a foreign country", while Wróciłem zza granicy means "I returned from beyond the border". The first would be used when talking about a foreign tourist trip, while the second could be used when travelling just beyond the border, e.g. when taking advantage of lower prices in a neighbouring country.

Declension

Related terms

• zagraniczny