luxembourg
C1formal, geographical, news
Definition
Meaning
A small landlocked country in western Europe.
Can refer to the country, its capital city (Luxembourg City), or the historical region.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Proper noun always capitalized; can refer to the sovereign state (Grand Duchy of Luxembourg), its capital, or the Belgian province of Luxembourg.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences; both use the same spelling.
Connotations
Generally neutral geographical/political reference.
Frequency
Similar frequency in both varieties; slightly higher in European contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
in Luxembourgfrom Luxembourgto LuxembourgVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “as small as Luxembourg”
- “Luxembourg-sized”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Luxembourg is a major financial centre in Europe.
Academic
The political structure of Luxembourg as a constitutional monarchy has been studied extensively.
Everyday
We're planning a weekend trip to Luxembourg.
Technical
Luxembourg's coordinates are 49°36′N 6°7′E.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- Luxembourgish cuisine
- Luxembourg law
American English
- Luxembourgish culture
- Luxembourg policy
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Luxembourg is in Europe.
- I come from Luxembourg.
- Luxembourg is one of the smallest countries in the EU.
- Have you ever visited Luxembourg City?
- Luxembourg's economy relies heavily on banking and financial services.
- The official languages of Luxembourg are Luxembourgish, French, and German.
- Luxembourg's role as a founding member of the EU continues to shape its foreign policy.
- The constitutional monarchy of Luxembourg maintains a delicate balance between tradition and modern governance.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'LUXury' + 'BOURG' (like Strasbourg) = LUXEMBOURG, a country with high living standards.
Conceptual Metaphor
A jewel box nation (small but valuable)
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Люксембург is the direct translation; avoid confusing with Люксембургский сад (Luxembourg Gardens in Paris).
Common Mistakes
- Forgetting to capitalize it
- Using 'the Luxembourg' (no article needed before country name)
Practice
Quiz
Which of these describes Luxembourg?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Luxembourg is both a country (Grand Duchy of Luxembourg) and the name of its capital city.
Luxembourgish, French, and German are the official languages.
/ˈlʌksəmbɜːɡ/ (LUCK-səm-burg)
'Luxembourg' is the standard English spelling; 'Luxemburg' is an alternative spelling sometimes used in other languages or historical contexts.