Learn English – A noun for a country you live in and that’s not your home country

word-request

Suppose you are from country X, and had to travel to and live in a foreign country Y for a better life, leaving behind your family. I'm looking for a word with the meaning a foreign country you voluntarily [to exclude exile] live in

I've been living in [expatriation] for five years.

My understanding is that in this sentence, expatriation referes to a state rather than a physical place.

I hope my husband will return from [expatriation] soon.

I'm not sure this last sentence is correct with expatriation refering to a foreign country (place). What I'm particulary interested in is the phrase return from Y.

So, does expatriation work? any other word? Other words that I have a confused understanding of are exile, alienation and diaspora.

Best Answer

Abroad is the word you are looking for.

In or to a foreign country; away from your home.

It is widely used in expressions like:

I decided to study abroad for 2 years because it costs less money.

I enjoy living and working abroad because I meet new kinds of people every day!

I can't wait for my husband to return from his military operation abroad.

It also obviously works in both your example sentences, as per my previous examples (if you remove "in").

I've been living abroad for five years.

I hope my husband returns from abroad soon.

Update: Note that "abroad" is mostly used as an adverb, but can also be used as a noun, in expressions like "from abroad" as per my third example sentence and the OP's second example sentence.

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