Today, I jokingly said that I wanted to migrate to New Zealand because it’s almost COVID-free, and it’s got sheep, and – c’mon man! – HOBBITS.
But the minute I said that, I knew I had said something, not exactly wrong. but imprecise. So I had a teachable moment, all by myself.
To Immigrate is to move “Into” a place to settle. Like how your Uncle immigrated to America when he got a job there. Or in my case, I wanted to IMMIGRATE to New Zealand and live like hobbits in the Shire.
To Emigrate (with an E and one M) is to “Exit” out of a place. Once you’re Uncle gets settled in the U.S., you plan to leave the Philippines and emigrate as soon as you can. Just like how if there’s a chance at landing an acting part in a Lord of the Rings spinoff movie – any movie – I might consider emigrating.
Confused? Don’t be. You’re right. Immigrate and Emigrate (with an E and one M) both mean about the same thing. The difference is the direction you’re going. So you Immigrate Into a place, and Emigrate to Exit a place.
Got it?
To MIGRATE, however, is simply to Move, like how whales migrate over the course of a year, to go from one feeding area to another, or how ducks and other birds fly south for the winter.
