Learn English Vocabulary: Immigrate, Emigrate, Migrate

Hi, there. My name is Emma, and today's lesson is on three commonly confused words. The words

are "migration", "immigration", and "emigration". Okay? So, this lesson has been suggested

to us by Nader from Iraq and Nora. So, these two individuals, these two viewers, they wrote

to us asking for this lesson in our comment section of engVid, and we're glad to do this

video. Okay, so let's get started on what these words mean.

So, first of all, "migrate". So, in this case, "migration" is the noun form; "migrate" is

the verb. So, what does "migrate" mean? It has to do with movement. All of these words

actually have to do with movement. "Migrate" has to do with seasonal movement or movement

that is not permanent. So, what do I mean by this? Well, let me give you some examples.

A lot of animals migrate. So, for example, every year, birds, for the winter, they fly

south to warmer areas. This is called the "bird migration" or "migration". So, Canadian

geese do this. Butterflies do this. Buffalo do this. Many animals, they move from one

area to another area, usually due to temperature, and then, at the end of the season, they move

back. So, "migration" is not permanent. Okay? "People" can also migrate, but again, it's

not permanent. In Canada, we have what are known as "migrant workers". So, these people

are people who come to Canada to work, sometimes just for a season, sometimes for a year, but

they go back home eventually. So, it's not a permanent position. They come to Canada

and then they leave. So, "migrate", "migration", and a person who migrates is a "migrant" or

"migrant worker". Sorry, that's the adjective form.

Okay, the next word is "immigrate". So, "immigrate" is very similar to "migrate" in that we're

talking about movement of people. Well, "migrate" also has to do with animals, but we're talking

about movement. The difference is, "immigration" and "immigrate", it's people only. Okay, so

no animals. Animals do not immigrate. People immigrate. It's also permanent. So, if you

immigrate to a country, that's where you're going to be living. You're stuck there. Well,

if you don't like the country, you're stuck there. Otherwise, it's a great experience.

You move to a new country and you stay put. And again, it means to move to a country.

So, here's my little picture. This thing that looks like a puddle is actually a country.

We have an arrow here, so it's showing you're moving into a country. Okay? Other forms of

this word, so "immigrate" is the verb, "immigration" is the noun, and if you immigrate, you are

an immigrant. So, as an example, my grandfather came to Canada from England in the 1920s.

He immigrated here. He was an immigrant. Okay, so now let's look at the last final

word, "emigrate". So, "emigrate" is very similar to "immigrate". It's about people, first of

all, not animals. So, people emigrate. It's also permanent, just like "immigration", but

the difference is in the meaning. It still has to do with movement, but it's about leaving

a country. So, for example, my grandfather, I told you he immigrated to Canada. He emigrated

from England. So, it's the country you leave from. You're emigrating when you leave a country.

So, here's a picture of another country. It's just a circle, and it shows an arrow leaving.

Okay, so let's do some practice with these words. Okay, so let's do some practice questions

together. All right? So, number one, "Monarch butterflies to Mexico yearly" or "every year".

Do you think it's "Monarch butterflies migrate, immigrate, or emigrate"? I hope you said "migrate".

So, "Monarch butterflies migrate to Mexico yearly." Number two, "I want to -- to Australia."

In this case, I've highlighted, the answer should mean "move to Australia". So, do you

think it's "I want to migrate, immigrate, or emigrate"? If you said "immigrate", you're

correct. "I want to immigrate to Australia." Number three, "My father moved to the United

States from Korea." He is an -- do you think it's "migrant", "immigrant", or "emigrant"?

If you said "immigrant", you are correct. "He from Korea." So, he's an immigrant from

Korea. He left Korea. Do you think he "immigrated" from Korea? He "emigrated" or he "migrated"?

You said "emigrated". You are correct. So, for more practice on the differences between

"migrate", "immigrate", and "emigrate", I invite you to come visit our site at www.engvid.com.

Until next time, take care.