7 Continents

There are 7 continents.*

The word "continent" comes from the Latin "terra continens", meaning "continuous land".

Like countries, continents are proper nouns. That means they are "names" and the first letter must be a CAPITAL letter. Even for the adjective, the first letter is always a capital:

Continent: Africa
Adjective: African
Person: an African

Continent: Asia
Adjective: Asian
Person: an Asian

Continent: Australia
Adjective: Australian
Person: an Australian

Continent: Europe
Adjective: European
Person: a European

Continent: North America
Adjective: North American
Person: a North American

Continent: South America
Adjective: South American
Person: a South American

Continent: Antarctica
Adjective: Antarctic
Person: -

Isn't it strange? We have a word for somebody who comes from the planet Mars (a Martian), but there is no word for somebody who comes from Antarctica!

More about continents and countries

*The English-speaking countries mostly teach the seven-continent model. However, six-, five-, four- and even three-continent models are also taught in some countries.

Contributor: Josef Essberger