May 28 AfD, deleted in 20 hrs

A limited number of proper names in English take the definite article. The list below is of special cases that must be memorized.

Rules[edit]

Names which always take the definite article:

• Plural nouns and implicit plural nouns (mountain ranges)
• Adjectival names, such as the names of rivers, or abbreviated names of regions whose full name ends in a generic noun
• Titles (the Pope, the Aga Khan, the Dalai Lama)

Exceptions[edit]

Stars and celestial objects[edit]

• The Sun (Sol)
• The Moon (Luna)
• The Solar System
• The Milky Way
• The Universe

Countries and regions[edit]

Countries

• The Gambia
• The Congo
• The Sudan

Names that occasionally or formerly took the definite article

• Ukraine - formerly "The Ukraine" when it was a region; now that is considered offensive
• Lebanon

Ambiguously plural countries and abbreviations

• The Netherlands
• The USSR
• The USA
• the DPRC, the DPRK, ....

Regions

• The Amazon
• The Caucasus
• The Maghreb

Cities and neighborhoods[edit]

• The Hague
• The Bronx

Geographic regions[edit]

Mountains

• The Mattehorn

References[edit]

• Style guide of The Economist

category:names