länders

Länder is the standard German plural form of Land, meaning a country or a subnational political unit. In common usage, Länder refers to the federal states within a federation, and is often seen in the compound Bundesländer, meaning federal states. The plural form Länder is used in reference to the subnational entities of Germany and Austria, as well as in historical or comparative contexts.

In Germany, the country is divided into 16 Länder, each with its own constitution and government. These states retain a degree of sovereignty and are responsible for areas such as education, police, and cultural affairs, while the federal government handles national policy and matters of nationwide importance. Austria has nine Bundesländer with similar constitutional status, and they play a key role in regional administration and policy implementation.

In Swiss German contexts, the primary subnational units are cantons (Kantone in standard German); Länder is less common and is more likely to appear in historical writing or in discussions comparing federal systems.

Etymology and usage: Land comes from the Old High German lant, related to the Proto-Germanic word for "land" or "territory." Länder is the plural form used when referring to multiple such territories. The term appears in everyday language and in specific compound terms, such as Bundesländer or Länderspiele.

Notable compounds include Länderspiele, meaning international matches between national teams, a common usage in football to describe games played by national sides. If you meant a different sense of länders or a particular proper noun, please provide more context.