There’s a lot of confusion among us Americans when it comes to the nomenclature of the British Isles. This quick and dirty guide might help to figure out what part of the British Isles one wants to refer to:
INDIVIDUAL COUNTRIES
These are countries within a greater country.
![Map of England](https://sites.miamioh.edu/meyersde/files/2021/02/England.png)
- English Government: Non-devolved state within a constitutional monarchy
- Capital: London, England
- Recognized Languages: English, Cornish
![Map of Scotland](https://sites.miamioh.edu/meyersde/files/2021/02/Scotland-765x1024.png)
- Scottish Government: Devolved government in a constitutional monarchy
- Capital: Edinburgh, Scotland
- Recognized Languages: Scots, Gaelic, English
![Map of Wales](https://sites.miamioh.edu/meyersde/files/2021/02/Wales-765x1024.png)
- Welsh Government: Devolved government in a constitutional monarchy
- Capital: Cardiff (Caerdydd), Wales
- Recognized Languages: English, Welsh
![Map of Northern Ireland](https://sites.miamioh.edu/meyersde/files/2021/02/Northern-Ireland-765x1024.png)
- Northern Irish Government: Constitutional monarchy; Consociationalism
- Capital: Belfast, Ireland
- Recognized Languages: Irish, Ulster Scots, English
REGIONS
![Map of Britain](https://sites.miamioh.edu/meyersde/files/2021/02/Britain-765x1024.png)
BRITAIN = England + Wales
![Map of Great Britain](https://sites.miamioh.edu/meyersde/files/2021/02/Great-Britian-765x1024.png)
GREAT BRITAIN = England + Wales + Scotland
When referring to “Britain” or “Great Britain,” think of the large island on the right side, separate from Ireland.
THE UNITED KINGDOM
![Map of United Kingdom](https://sites.miamioh.edu/meyersde/files/2021/02/United-Kingdom-765x1024.png)
THE UNITED KINGDOM = England + Wales + Scotland + Northern Ireland
- Capital: London, England, United Kingdom
- Official Language: English
BRITISH TERRITORIES AND POSSESSIONS
There are 14 British possessions and territories that are governed by the United Kingdom, though they do not form part of the United Kingdom itself. These territories include:
- Anguilla
- Bermuda
- the British Antarctic Territory
- the British Indian Ocean Territory
- the British Virgin Islands
- the Cayman Islands
- the Falkland Islands
- Gibraltar
- Montserrat
- the Pitcairn Islands
- Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
- South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
- the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia
- Turks and Caicos Islands
Similarly, there are three territories that are referred to as Crown Dependancies. These dependencies include:
- Jersey
- Guernsey
- the Isle of Man
THE BRITISH ISLES
![Map of the British Isles](https://sites.miamioh.edu/meyersde/files/2021/02/British-Isles-765x1024.png)
The British Isles is an archipelago situated off the Northwest coast of continental Europe. The Isles are composed of the two large islands of Great Britain and Ireland and over six thousand smaller isles. The major sovereign states and United Kingdom Crown Dependencies of the British Isles include:
- Ireland
- The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- the Isle of Man
- Jersey
- Guernsey
THE COMMONWEALTH OF NATIONS
![Map of the Commonwealth of Nations](https://sites.miamioh.edu/meyersde/files/2021/02/Commonwealth-of-Nations.png)
The Commonwealth of Nations is an intergovernmental organization of 53 independent members, made up mostly of countries that were formerly part of the British Empire.
- Headquarters: Marlborough House, London, England, United Kingdom
- Official Language: English
Member Nations:
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Australia
- Bahamas
- Bangladesh
- Barbados
- Belize
- Botswana
- Brunei
- Cameroon
- Canada
- Cyprus
- Dominica
- Gambia
- Ghana
- Grenada
- Guyana
- India
- Jamaica
- Kenya
- Kiribati
- Lesotho
- Malawi
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Malta
- Mauritius
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Nauru
- New Zealand
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
- Papua New Guinea
- Rwanda
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Samoa
- Seychelles
- Sierra Leone
- Singapore
- Solomon Islands
- South Africa
- Sri Lanka
- Swaziland
- Tanzania
- Tonga
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tuvalu
- Uganda
- United Kingdom
- Vanuatu
- Zambia