What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
continent
Example
Australia is the smallest continent in the world. [continent: noun]
Example
The Eurasian continent is the largest landmass on Earth. [continent: noun]
subcontinent
Example
India is often referred to as the Indian subcontinent. [subcontinent: noun]
Example
The Himalayan mountain range spans across several countries in the South Asian subcontinent. [subcontinent: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Continent is a more common term than subcontinent, as it is used to describe the major land masses of the world. However, subcontinent is still an important term used to describe specific regions within larger continents.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between continent and subcontinent?
Both continent and subcontinent are formal terms used in geography and other academic fields. However, continent is more commonly used in everyday language and is more versatile in terms of formality level.
