A
homeland (rel.
country of origin and
native land) is the concept of the place (
cultural geography) with which an
ethnic group holds a long history and a deep cultural association – the country in which a particular
national identity began. As a common noun, it simply connotes the country of one's origin. When used as a
proper noun, the word, as well as its equivalents in other languages, often have
ethnic nationalist connotations. A homeland may also be referred to as a
fatherland, a
motherland, or a
mother country, depending on the culture and language of the nationality in question.