seychelles: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal, geographical, travel
Quick answer
What does “seychelles” mean?
A country consisting of an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean off East Africa.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A country consisting of an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean off East Africa.
Often used to refer to the island nation as a tourist destination or as a geopolitical entity. May also refer to the Creole culture and language of the islands.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in usage. Both refer to the same country.
Connotations
Associated with luxury tourism, pristine beaches, and biodiversity in both varieties.
Frequency
Similar frequency in both UK and US English, perhaps slightly higher in UK due to historical Commonwealth ties.
Grammar
How to Use “seychelles” in a Sentence
[verb] the Seychelles (e.g., visit, leave, govern)located in the Seychellesfrom the SeychellesVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “seychelles” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The Seychelles coastline is breathtaking.
- We sampled authentic Seychelles cuisine.
American English
- The Seychelles government issued a statement.
- Seychelles biodiversity is remarkable.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Referencing the tourism market, offshore financial services, or trade relations with the Seychelles.
Academic
Used in geography, political science (small island developing states), or environmental studies (biodiversity hotspot).
Everyday
Primarily in the context of travel destinations, holidays, and geography.
Technical
In meteorology (tracking cyclones in the Indian Ocean) or marine biology (coral reef research).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “seychelles”
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “seychelles”
- Using a singular verb with 'the Seychelles' (e.g., 'Seychelles is' is correct as it's a singular country name).
- Omitting the definite article 'the' (incorrect: 'I travelled to Seychelles'; correct: 'I travelled to the Seychelles').
- Misspelling as 'Seyshells', 'Seichelles'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
When referring to the country as a single political entity, use 'the Seychelles is'. When emphasizing the individual islands, 'the Seychelles are' is sometimes used but 'is' for the country is standard.
Yes, when using the name to refer to the country/group of islands, the definite article is standard: 'the Seychelles'. In official names (e.g., Republic of Seychelles), 'the' is not part of the name itself.
They are called Seychellois (singular and plural).
The capital is Victoria, located on the island of Mahé.
A country consisting of an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean off East Africa.
Seychelles is usually formal, geographical, travel in register.
Seychelles: in British English it is pronounced /seɪˈʃɛl/, and in American English it is pronounced /seɪˈʃɛlz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'Say Shells' – imagine saying you found beautiful shells on these islands.
Conceptual Metaphor
A GARDEN OF EDEN / A TROPICAL PARADISE (emphasizing its pristine, idyllic nature).
Practice
Quiz
What is the correct grammatical treatment of 'the Seychelles' in a sentence?