My father-in-law asked me this question and I said I would find out.
2006-06-27 03:14:01 · 11 answers · asked by electroniccarcass 2 in Travel ➔ Europe (Continental) ➔ Other - Europe
We refer to The United States and The United Arab Emirates, because we are referring to collections of states here. We say America and Russia because they are individual nations.
We SHOULD say Ukraine for this same reason. Unfortunately most of us grew up when "The Ukraine" was correct, as it was a region that we were referring to, like in the US we say The Mid West, or we knew it as The Ukrainian Socialist Republic.
2006-06-27 03:35:10 · answer #1 · answered by math_prof 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
This is a grammar/translation issue. Translations from Ukrainian use the "the" where none is indicated, and when it should be used it is left out. In the early 20th century, as a result of this someone picked up on "the Ukraine" and it caught on. NO article is used for a single country; only when there is a suggested or real plural should the article be use -- i.e.. Russia;THE Russian Empire is an example from Ukraine's northern neighbor
2013-12-12 06:29:26 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've always just referred to Ukraine as Ukraine, no the in front. Can't think why you would add a the though. Although it is called "Die Ukraine" in german. So that's got a the.
It's like the UK and US I've never really thought of them without the the. But other countries just sound daft with one. The Germany, The Belgium, The Cuba? Nah,
2006-06-27 03:33:30 · answer #3 · answered by karenmaryrfds 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Good point; we say the UK and the US as well don't we. Great Britain and America don't have 'the' in front.
I don't think there is any linguistic reason for this; just the 'fashion' of the way the words are used. It probably was not always like this, the way words are used does evolve over time.
One idea springs to mind: other nations in eastern Europe have 'ia' endings, possibly if the country was called Ukrainia (meaning I suppose 'the country of the Ukraine' in the same way as Romania is the country of the Romans and Russia is the country of the Russ) it wouldn't have the 'the' in front.
2006-06-27 03:19:16 · answer #4 · answered by SmartBlonde 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I never know why, it is called Ukraine, saying the "Ukraine" is as bad as saying "the England" or "the France", it shouldn't be done.
Ukrainians find it quite offensive because it refers to them as being underlings to an empire like in "the colonies".
2006-06-27 03:20:30 · answer #5 · answered by kingpaulii 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The ireland?
the portugal?
erm,
I think it might be cos the Ukraine is an abv its self, I could be a whole thing like the Ukrainian Republic of the former USSR CCP.tm. all rights reserved. patent pending.
or something?
2006-06-27 03:24:13 · answer #6 · answered by Jonathan T 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it was a provence of the ussr, and like the bronx, was called that until independence. now it's called ukraine, but most people still say the ukraine, like people call the u.s. america
2006-06-28 11:00:35 · answer #7 · answered by oldbuckhorn 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ukraine is a place, its a country...
its like you'll say 'the Israel' ... wtf?! :)
more than that - did u know - when u speak on russian and u trying to answer "where are you? - i'm in Ukraine"
u say "I'm ON Ukraine"
I'm Ukrainian that lives in Israel.
both of them are great countries. :)
2006-06-27 03:19:25 · answer #8 · answered by Arcady 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because it used to be called The Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic.
2006-06-27 03:24:58 · answer #9 · answered by John C 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because in Linguistic, except countries with names made with abbreviations e.g.The USA, the UK, etc...
Universal linguistic exception applied in the following region:
1.The Congo
2.The Ukraine
3.The Sahara
2006-06-27 03:22:48 · answer #10 · answered by Michael m 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋