Migration is a common practice among animals seeking to survive changes in weather, but creatures of the wild aren’t the only ones who migrate. When people seek better living conditions and quality of life, they have the option to migrate to a different country. Because other nations might have benefits, advantages, and perks that some might find more appropriate for their preferences, they can choose to permanently move to a different country. For those who have jobs that require them to live away from their homeland, they can temporarily move into a different nation under the terms of their job.
When talking of migration, there are two terms that we commonly hear. These are emigrate and immigrate. While some people tend to use these words interchangeably, they’re not actually the same. The main distinction is grammatical in nature, but understanding their uses just the same will lead to a better understanding when the need to use these two words comes up.
What is Emigrate?
To emigrate is to move away from a country and into a different one to either live temporarily or permanently. For example, a person moving from the Philippines and into Canada is emigrating from the Philippines. Basically, we use the word emigrate when we’re pertaining to a move away from a country of origin.
What is Immigrate?
To immigrate is to move into a new country from a native country for permanent or temporary residence. Taking the same previous example, a person who moves into Canada from the Philippines is immigrating into Canada. The word immigrate is used to pertain to a transfer into a new country.
When to Use Them
It now becomes apparent that these words aren’t used interchangeably as it using one or the other can completely change the meaning of a statement. When using either word, it’s important to keep in mind the point of view from which the statement is being made. If you’re hoping to express that you moved from a country, the word emigrate would be appropriate to use. If the idea of moving into a new country is what is being expressed, the word immigrate is the necessary term.
Keeping these differences in mind will give you a better understanding of the common problems and trends in our world today, and will also make it possible to use the appropriate words during conversations to avoid misunderstandings or misinformation.
