Emigrate vs. Immigrate: What's the Difference?
Learn how emigrate focuses on leaving a country and immigrate focuses on entering one, with from-and-to patterns, examples, a quiz, and FAQs.
Emigrate means leave one country to settle in another and normally pairs with from. Immigrate means enter a new country to settle there and normally pairs with to. The same person can emigrate from one country and immigrate to another.
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A family history says its subjects “immigrated from Italy in 1952.” Everyday readers will understand, but the sentence focuses on departure from Italy; the more precise verb is emigrated from Italy. Their arrival can be described as immigrated to Canada.
Emigrate vs. Immigrate at a glance
| Word | Typical role | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| emigrate | Verb | to leave one's country to settle in another | Her grandparents emigrated from Portugal after the war. |
| immigrate | Verb | to enter a country in order to settle there | They immigrated to Brazil and opened a small business. |
How to use emigrate
Emigrate presents migration from the viewpoint of departure. The related noun is emigrant for a person leaving, and emigration for the process. The usual preposition is from.
Her grandparents emigrated from Portugal after the war.
How to use immigrate
Immigrate presents the same broad movement from the viewpoint of arrival. The related noun is immigrant for a person entering, and immigration for the process. The usual preposition is to.
They immigrated to Brazil and opened a small business.
Rules that make the choice easier
Use emigrate with from
When the sentence emphasizes the country a person leaves, choose emigrate: emigrated from Poland.
Use immigrate with to
When the sentence emphasizes the destination country, choose immigrate: immigrated to Australia.
Use migrate for the broader movement
Migrate can describe movement from one region to another and is also used for animals, data, and systems. It does not force the same departure-or-arrival viewpoint.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Avoid immigrate from when you specifically want to emphasize departure; emigrate from is more precise.
- Avoid emigrate to when the focus is entry into the destination; immigrate to is more precise.
- Do not assume every temporary international move is immigration; these verbs normally imply settlement.
Quick practice
1. The family ___ from Ireland in 1890.
Answer: emigrated
2. They later ___ to New Zealand.
Answer: immigrated
3. Which general verb can describe seasonal animal movement?
Answer: migrate
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between emigrate and immigrate?
Emigrate focuses on leaving a country; immigrate focuses on entering a new country to settle.
Do you emigrate from or to a country?
The usual precise pattern is emigrate from a country.
Do you immigrate to or from a country?
The usual precise pattern is immigrate to a country.
Can the same person be an emigrant and an immigrant?
Yes. The person is an emigrant from the departure country and an immigrant in the destination country.