# native soil

**Pronunciation:** ˈneɪtɪv sɔɪl · NAY-tiv soyl

**CEFR level:** B1

**Part of speech:** noun phrase

## Meaning

The land or country where a person was born and to which they have a special connection.

## Examples

- She felt a deep sense of belonging when she finally returned to her native soil.
- Many expatriates dream of retiring to their native soil.
- The poet wrote movingly about the longing for native soil.

## Synonyms

- homeland — The country one considers their permanent home.
- birthplace — The specific place where someone was born.
- motherland — A country one feels a strong emotional or patriotic connection to.

## Antonyms

- foreign land — A country that is not one's own.
- exile — The state of being barred from one's native country.

## Common patterns

- return to native soil — To go back to the country or place where one was born. — Many immigrants dream of one day returning to their native soil.
- longing for native soil — A strong desire to be in the country or place where one was born. — The soldiers wrote letters filled with longing for native soil.

## Collocations

- return to native soil — After decades away, he finally had the chance to return to his native soil.
- longing for native soil — The refugees expressed a deep longing for native soil.

Canonical URL: https://anaversity.com/dictionary/english/native%20soil

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