seychelles

seychelles — noun

1. a group of over one hundred islands in the waters of the Indian Ocean, east of A

1.nounB1
Definition

a group of over one hundred islands in the waters of the Indian Ocean, east of Africa, that together form a nation known for white sand beaches and rare wildlife

Example

Mizuki spent two weeks in the Seychelles last summer.

preposition: in the Seychelles

The Seychelles is famous for giant tortoises that live on its remote islands.

passive: is famous for

Common collocations
  • in the Seychelles
  • to Seychelles
  • the Seychelles

Usage Note

Often used with 'the' when referring to the island group (the Seychelles), but Seychelles without an article is common in travel and news contexts when referring to the country.

Common Mistakes

I visited Seychelles island last year.
I visited the Seychelles last year.
The country name includes all the islands; it is not a single island.

seychelles — adjective

Word family

  • Seychellois
    adjectiveB2
  • Seychellois
    nounB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

Both Seychelles and Seychellois can serve as adjectives meaning 'from or relating to Seychelles.' Seychelles is the more common attributive form in everyday writing, especially in tourism and news contexts (Seychelles government, Seychelles tourism, Seychelles beaches). Seychellois (pronounced /ˌseɪʃɛlˈwɑː/) is the standard demonym and is preferred in formal or official writing, particularly when referring to people (the Seychellois people, a Seychellois diplomat). In practice, the two forms are often interchangeable in attributive position. For example, both 'the Seychelles delegation' and 'the Seychellois delegation' appear in news reports, though Seychellois carries a slightly more respectful or official tone when describing citizens.

SeychelloisSeychelles (adj.)

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • the Seychelles
  • visit Seychelles
  • from Seychelles

Prepositions

Etymology

FrenchEnglish

Named after Vicomte Jean Moreau de Séchelles, who served as France's Minister of Finance under King Louis XV. The French explorer Lazare Picault claimed the uninhabited islands for France in 1756 and gave them the name Séchelles, which later became Seychelles in English. The islands became an independent country in 1976.