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Why do we use the plural of the definite article in the name of certain countries?

Business Editors

The names of the countries mentioned in the question are based on a composition of units, therefore the article is plural. However, most of the countries are “singular”. The other exceptions include countries composed of many islands: Les Seychelles, les Philippines…

Les États-Unis d’Amérique (federal republic composed of 50 states)

Les Émirats arabes unis (Federal monarchy composed of 7 emirates)

Les Pays-Bas (historically, 7 independent provinces united to create the Provinces-Unies, which evolved through the time to become today’s Royaume des Pays-Bas)

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