Similar to immigrate and emigrate, these 2 words are often used incorrectly.

I use this easy way of remembering of distinguishing one from the other.

Emigrate and immigrate

Going away (the ‘from’ country): emigrate is when you leave your home country to go and live in another country – e.g. you emigrate from New Zealand.

Going towards (the ‘to’ country): immigrate is when you go to live in another country – e.g. you immigrate to Australia. Think of the letter “i” as in going in to another country…immigrating.

Emersion and immersion

Coming out or up: emersion is when you appear from, coming out or up of; emerging from something (e.g. water) or somewhere (e.g. a retreat or sabbatical).

Going in or down: immersion is to submerge, sink or go down into something; to become involved in, to cover oneself. Again, think of the letter “i” as in going in…immersion.