Why is "s" in Philippines sometimes omitted?

Question

know any other country that also has this system?

Answer 1

When referring to the country, it is properly spelled "Philippines"- with the "S". When referring to people/things from this country, the "S" is commonly omitted ie. "Philippine Airlines".

However, anyone/anything from this country should properly be referred to as "Filipino" if male or neutral (ie. Filipino dish, Filipino flag etc.), and "Filipina" if female, as opposed to "Philippine". I should know- I'm from the Philippines! =)

Answer 2

I think some people forget that the Philippines is a group of islands,a lot of country's that are made up of islands are referred to that way

Answer 3

Because it is the proper way of pronouncing it if followed by a noun.

Answer 4

Philippines and Philippine is like America and American

Philippines - (noun) the country

Philippine - (adjective) referring to something that is from/of the Philippines

That's why it's the Philippines (when you're referring to the country in general) and Philippine Islands (cause you're now describing the islands to be in the territory of the Philippines).

There are quite a few countries whose names end in the letter "s".  However, there seems to be only two other countries that have "the same system" as the Philippines.  These are:

Laos - Lao People's Democratic Republic

Maldives - Maldive Islands

It is interesting to note that The Bahamas, have an island called Grand Bahama.  However, it seems they don't use the same system as the Philippines as they use "BAHAMIAN" when referring to something to be of/from their country.

Netherlands do NOT have the same system either.  DUTCH is the word usually used to describe something to be of/from Netherlands.

Answer 5

It's not. The only time it can be is when it's referred to as the "Philippine Islands"... because it's just a bunch of islands.

When you are referring to the people, they are Filipinos.

Answer 6

Philippines = the name of country

Philippine = referring to other agencies, offices or services here in the Philippines

for example: Philippine Red Cross, Philippine Heart Center, Philippine Tourism, etc.

Filipino = men  / Filipina= women

Answer 7

it is only in the philippines.  netherlands does not omit "s"