viajando a la India

Question

In the following sentences:

¿Por qué está viajando a la India?

and

¿Por qué está viajando a Italia?

Why do you use la India but not la Italia?

Answer 1

That's a good question. I've been thinking and I can't find an explanation... Weel, with some countries you can use the article, with anothers would sound weird... One thing that I can assure, don't use the article and it will sound correctly.

Edit: That's a good question. I've been thinking and I can't find an explanation... Well, with some countries you can use the article, with others it would sound weird... One thing that I can assure you, don't use the article and it will sound correct. - wbyoung, Oct 11, 2012

Answer 2

When you think about it, we do the same in English.

The Ukraine

The Philippines

The Bahamas

....to name a few.

Answer 3

Some countries just carry an article with them, for example: la Argentina.

Answer 4

So it sounds like some countries just use the article and some do not. Is it just a memorizing thing? Or can you just always not use the article?

I think you could get away with just not saying the article. I always here just "Argentina", never "la Argentina", in everyday Spanish. For example, "Fui a Argentina", instead of "Fui a la Argentina." - Azabache, May 10, 2011

Answer 5

That's so good question...I would like to have an answer. Good luck !