Home of English Grammar

Free Guide (Updated for 2022)

  • Home
  • Download Lessons
  • Grammar Rules
  • Online Exercises
  • Online Tools
    • Grammar Checker
    • Word Counter
  • Guides
  • Contact
You are here: Home / Difference / Emigrate vs. Immigrate vs. Migrate

Emigrate vs. Immigrate vs. Migrate

December 27, 2016 - pdf

The difference between emigrate and immigrate are subtle but important because using one of these words depends on the sentence’s point of view. This small difference in meaning creates confusion among writers. However, it is important to focus first on the word migrate because it encompasses both emigrate and immigrate.

The term migrate is a verb meaning “to move from one region or habitat to another, especially regularly according to the seasons” in the case of animals, particularly birds and fishes, but in this discussion, we will take in consideration its meaning “to move from one area or country to settle in another, especially in search of work,” which is applicable to people.

“Are you planning to leave, or no longer migrate to, the US?”
The Guardian

“Sex with Neanderthals helped our ancestors live out of Africa”
International Business Times UK

“Japan companies and investors migrate to Vietnam”
VietNamNet Bridge

Meanwhile, the term emigrate is a verb used to mean “to leave one’s own country in order to settle permanently in another.” It has an implication that a person or persons are permanently moving from his former location.

“These are the best countries for Americans to emigrate to as Donald Trump becomes President”
Mirror.co.uk

“Americans google ‘how do I emigrate?’ as searches for ‘end of the world’ rise around the planet”
Telegraph.co.uk

“Celebrities in political campaigns who threaten to emigrate”
BBC News

On the other hand, the term immigrate is a verb meaning “to come to live permanently in a foreign country.” It also implies a permanent movement of a person to another place.

“Melania Trump Will Share Her Experience Immigrating to the US in Campaign Speech”
ABC News

“9 countries to which Americans can easily immigrate”
SFGate

“McCool: Americans are going to find it hard to immigrate to Canada if Trump wins”
Ottawa Citizen

In order to determine which term to use in a sentence, you can keep in mind the following:

  • Migrate is a term that covers both emigrate and immigrate since it refers to the movement FROM one place TO another.
  • Emigrate is the term used when your point of view is leaving or moving FROM your country or place of origin.
  • Immigrate is the term used when your point of view is arriving or moving TO your destination country.
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
1,127,749 
201,073 

Check Your Grammar

GrammarCheck.net - Try online
Hint → Bookmark GrammarCheck for future use.

Latest Exercises

  • Will vs. Would June 26, 2022
  • See vs. Look vs. Watch June 23, 2022
  • General Grammar Exercise June 21, 2022
  • Tenses Gap Filling Exercise June 21, 2022
  • Gap Filling Exercise June 20, 2022
  • Subject Verb Agreement Exercise June 20, 2022
  • Prepositions Exercise June 19, 2022
  • Gap Filling Exercise June 19, 2022
  • Tenses Exercise June 18, 2022

Topics

  • Adjectives
  • Adverbs
  • Business Writing
  • Commas
  • Conjunctions
  • Creative Writing
  • Difference
  • Essay Writing
  • Exercises
  • Learning
  • Lessons
  • Nouns
  • Prepositions
  • Pronouns
  • Proofreading
  • Punctuation
  • Quiz
  • Spelling
  • Style Guide
  • Teaching
  • Terms
  • Verbs
  • Words
  • Writing

Quiz

  • Can you correct these 14 basic grammar mistakes?
  • What kind of writer are you?

Copyright © 2022 · EnglishGrammar.org
Disclaimer · Privacy Policy · Sitemap