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- "Ben is from Australia."
"Ben is from Australia."
Translation:Ben kommt aus Australien.
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When talking about someone's place of origin, that is, where they were born and grew up, we say "He is from --" in English. In German you can say either "Er ist aus --" or "Er kommt aus --". Both are correct and interchangeable, but I understand the "kommen aus" form is more common among German-speakers and is more sophisticated.
Our owl has sprung another of these country names ending in "-ien" on us without warning. We've had Brasilien. There's also Italien and Spanien. Now there's Australien.
Brasilien
Italien
Spanien
Austalien
I'm not entirely certain how to say the "-ien" ending. Although the letters "ie" when together in one syllable are pronounced i: the ending "-ien" seems to be pronounced in two syllables. "Italien" sounds to us English-speakers like someone from Italy, not the country itself! The same is so of "Australien", as fA7iVwSJ said.
And how do we pronounce the "-ier" ending of "Australier" (meaning man or men of Australia)? I know the "-ier" of "der Vegetarier" ("the vegetarian") is said in two syllables and I expect "Australier" is the same.
Tricky! I can't help thinking it's as if "Australian" and "Australia" switched their meaning between English and German (at least if the "ia" isn't clearly enunciated) - but perhaps I shouldn't have said that in case it sows confusion and makes people think it's more difficult than it is! :-(