herzegovina: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Academic, News, Geographic
Quick answer
What does “herzegovina” mean?
A geographic and historical region in the Balkans, part of the modern state of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A geographic and historical region in the Balkans, part of the modern state of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The southern part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, distinguished by its historical name, cultural identity, and geographic features. It may also be used in geopolitical, historical, or travel contexts to refer to that specific area.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Both British and American English use the full compound country name 'Bosnia and Herzegovina'.
Connotations
Neutral geographic/historical term; may evoke connotations of the Bosnian War (1992–1995) in recent historical contexts.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both varieties, used primarily in specific geographic, historical, or political discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “herzegovina” in a Sentence
[Proper Noun, part of compound place name]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “herzegovina” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The Herzegovinian landscape is strikingly karst.
- Herzegovinian wines are gaining recognition.
American English
- Herzegovinian cuisine features Mediterranean influences.
- The Herzegovinian coast is rugged.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in reports related to Balkan markets, e.g., 'expanding operations into Bosnia and Herzegovina.'
Academic
Appears in historical, political science, and geography texts discussing the Balkans, Yugoslav Wars, or European regions.
Everyday
Used in news reports or travel discussions, e.g., 'We visited Mostar in Herzegovina.'
Technical
Used in geopolitical analysis, cartography, and international law concerning state sovereignty and borders.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “herzegovina”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “herzegovina”
- Misspelling as 'Herzogovina', 'Herzegovnia'.
- Using 'Herzegovina' alone to refer to the entire country instead of 'Bosnia and Herzegovina'.
- Incorrect capitalisation in the middle of the name, e.g., 'Bosnia And Herzegovina'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, Herzegovina is a historical and geographical region, not a sovereign state. It forms one of the two main regions of the country Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The name reflects the two distinct historical and geographic regions that constitute the modern state: Bosnia (the larger northern and central part) and Herzegovina (the smaller southern part).
In British English: /ˌhɛətsəˈɡɒvɪnə/ (hairt-suh-GOV-in-uh). In American English: /ˌhɛrtsəˈɡoʊvɪnə/ (hert-suh-GOH-vin-uh). The 'z' is pronounced as /ts/ or /rz/.
The capital is Sarajevo, which is located in the Bosnian region, not in Herzegovina.
A geographic and historical region in the Balkans, part of the modern state of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Herzegovina is usually formal, academic, news, geographic in register.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
HERZeGovina: Imagine a HERD of ZEbras being governed (GOV) in a region (INA) – the herd is in Herzegovina.
Conceptual Metaphor
A REGION IS A COMPONENT PART (of a larger whole, i.e., the state).
Practice
Quiz
What is the most common and correct way to refer to the country containing the region of Herzegovina?