Why does "the" Philippines have the word "the" before it?

Question

I mean, when you use the country in a sentence like "I'm going to the Philippines" or "She's in the Philippines", there's always the "the" part... In turn, you can't say "I'm going to Philippines" because it'll sound absurd.

I think that the Philippines is the only country that you begin with "the"... (Besides "the" United States or "the" United Kingdom of course)

Maybe becasue it's an archipelago country, with many islands? But what about Japan or Indonesia, they are archipelago countries too, but we don't say "The Japan" nor "The Indonesia"...

Or is it has something to do with naming the country from a king (King Philip II of Spain)... that's why it's gotta have the "the"...

*going nuts*

Have a nice day, people!

Answer 1

Because it's an island "Group".
There are other island groups:
The Marriannas
The West Indies
The Solomons
The Bahamas
Etc.
Etc.

Answer 2

consistent with possibility because of the fact theist is reported in yet in a different thank you to atheist. The atheist makes the ei sound like "e" fairly of "a" yet i'm no longer completely confident that this is the clarification. consistent with possibility that's genuine, as creatrix shows, that atheists are for some reason greater effective spellers. If it have been it may actual bring about atheist being spelt incorrectly greater in many situations as atheists use the observe theist maximum in many situations whilst all and sundry makes use of the observe atheist.

Answer 3

There is more than 1 island

Answer 4

Usually applies to a plural of states, islands, or a group of countries as in the European Union. Can also refer to a specific area, region or ocean/sea group of countries as in the Mediterranean or the Pacific. It can be a mountain grouping as in the Apalachians or the Alps. We also refer to "the"north or south poles.

Answer 5

Because it ends with an "s" and most of us are victims of public school. It is grammatically correct to say "I went to Philippines to buy a wife." It is grammatically incorrect to say "I went to the Philippines to buy a wife." The real mystery is why we say "the Ukraine" like it should be "The Ukraine" when really it's just "Ukraine".

Answer 6

The Philippines Rock! "|" |-| 3 -- |> |-| | |_ | |> |> | /\/ 5 --- |2 () ( |<
It's multiple big islands give the the to the Philippines

Answer 7

Good question. I always wondered why southern France is called the "South of France."

Answer 8

click that link

http://www.infoplease.com/countries.html

because the country, Philippines, is very special! =p

Answer 9

For the same reason that people say "The Ukraine."

Wish I knew what that reason was though.

Answer 10

dats cuz itz an island group.
like
da carribean
da bahamas
etc...