internationale
LowFormal, Historical, Political
Definition
Meaning
An anthem of the socialist and communist movements, or a type of socialist international organization.
A song or event with a strong theme of international worker solidarity; sometimes used historically or ironically to refer to international socialist gatherings.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
It is a proper noun (capitalised) when referring to the specific song. When used as a common noun (e.g., 'an internationale'), it typically refers to a type of international socialist congress or organisation, though this usage is rare.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is identical, though slightly more likely to be referenced in British historical/political discourse due to stronger historical Labour/leftist movements.
Connotations
Strong historical and ideological connotations. In both dialects, it evokes 19th/20th-century socialism, communism, or labour movements.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general language. Most common in historical, political science, or music contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
sing + the Internationalerefer to + the Internationalecapitalise + InternationaleVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Sing a different internationale”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in history, political science, or musicology to discuss socialist movements.
Everyday
Extremely rare, except in specific political or historical discussions.
Technical
May appear in historical texts or political theory as a proper noun.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- (Not applicable as a verb)
American English
- (Not applicable as a verb)
adverb
British English
- (Not applicable as an adverb)
American English
- (Not applicable as an adverb)
adjective
British English
- (Not used as a standard adjective; 'international' is used)
American English
- (Not used as a standard adjective; 'international' is used)
Examples
By CEFR Level
- We learned about a song called The Internationale.
- The protestors sang The Internationale during the rally.
- Historically, The Internationale served as an anthem for socialist and labour parties worldwide.
- The schism within the Second Internationale was precipitated by debates over support for the First World War.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine an INTERnational rally where they ALL sing 'The Internationale'.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOLIDARITY IS A SONG; INTERNATIONALISM IS AN ANTHEM.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'интернационал' (internatsional) when referring to the concept of internationalism itself. 'Internationale' in English is almost exclusively the song/title.
Common Mistakes
- Using lower case 'i' when referring to the song (should be capitalised).
- Using it as a synonym for 'international' (adjective).
Practice
Quiz
What is 'The Internationale' primarily known as?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. 'International' is a common adjective. 'The Internationale' (capitalised) is a proper noun for a specific song/organisation.
Yes, when referring to the song or historical socialist organisation, it should be capitalised: 'The Internationale'.
No, it has very low frequency and is confined to historical, political, or musical contexts.
It came from French ('L'Internationale'), from the song written by Eugène Pottier in 1871.