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An English exonym is a name in the English language for a place (a toponym), or occasionally other terms, which does not follow the local usage (the endonym). Exonyms and endonyms are features of all languages, and other languages may have their own exonym for English endonyms, for example Llundain is the Welsh exonym for the English endonym "London".
Romanization, or transcription of a non-Latin alphabet endonym into a Latin alphabet, is not generally regarded as creating exonyms: "The application of any scientifically sound romanization system to a non-Roman endonym merely re-creates that original endonym in another legitimate form" (Päll, 2002). [1] [2] However old romanization systems may leave a legacy of "familiar" spellings, as in the case of, for example, romanization of Burmese. [3] This affects romanization of Arabic, romanization of Chinese, and many other non-Latin alphabet place names.
Translations of non-proper nouns such as "river" and "lake" also do not qualify as exonyms.
A less common form of exonym is usage for names and titles. Personal exonyms are typically limited to regnal names such as popes (John Paul II) and monarchs (Charles V); less commonly, well-known historical authors (John Calvin, for French Jean Calvin) are referred to by exonyms. The list does not include the list of English translated personal names.
This section lists English-language exonyms that are for places located in multiple countries, English names of countries, and typical patterns.
The following is a list of countries and territories whose names in local languages differ from their (non-local) English ones. The list includes countries with limited recognition, autonomous territories of sovereign countries, and fully sovereign countries.
Country names are listed in their short form, and do not include names spelled identically in English. Near-identical names in pronunciation or spelling are included, but countries named with non-proper nouns (like Central African Republic or United Arab Emirates) are not. It is debatable whether the mere omission of a diacritical mark (as in several instances in the table below) creates an exonym.
The languages listed are official languages and/or prominent local languages, except if the name for the associated country is spelled the same as in English. Languages in italics are no longer spoken in the given country, but the name listed retains some use.
Likewise, exonyms in italics are obsolete or are disputed.
English name | Endonym | Language |
---|---|---|
Abkhazia | Aṗsny (Аԥсны) | Abkhaz |
Abkhaziya (Абхазия) | Russian | |
Afghanistan | Afġānestān (افغانستان) | Dari |
Afġānistān (افغانستان) | Pashto | |
Albania | Shqipëri(a) | Standard Albanian |
Shqipyni(a) | Gheg Albanian | |
Algeria | Al-Dzāyīr (الدزاير) | Maghrebi Arabic |
Al-Jazā'ir (الجزائر) | Standard Arabic | |
Armenia | Hayastan (Հայաստան) | Armenian |
Austria | Österreich | Standard German |
Azerbaijan | Azərbaycan | Azeri |
Bahrain | Al-Baḥrayn (البحرين) | Standard Arabic |
Bangladesh | বাংলাদেশ (Bangladesh) | Bengali |
Belarus | Byelarus’ (Беларусь) | Belarusian |
Russian | ||
Belgium | België | Dutch |
Belgien | Standard German | |
Belgique | French | |
Benin | Bénin | French |
Bhutan | Druk Yul (འབྲུག་ཡུལ་) | Dzongkha |
Bolivia | Mborivia | Guarani |
Puliwya | Quechua | |
Wuliwya | Aymara | |
Bosnia & Herzegovina | Bosna & Hercegovina (Босна & Херцеговина) | Bosnian |
Brazil | Brasil | Portuguese |
Bulgaria | Balgariya (България) | Bulgarian |
Burkina Faso | Burkĩna Faso | Mossi |
Burundi | Uburundi | Kirundi |
Cambodia | Kampuciə (កម្ពុជា) | Khmer |
Cameroon | Cameroun | French |
Kamerun | Fula | |
Cape Verde | Cabo Verde | Portuguese |
Kabu Verdi | Cape Verdean Creole | |
Chad | Tchad | French |
Tshād (تشاد) | Standard Arabic | |
Chile | Chili | Aymara |
Chli | Mapudungun | |
Chili | Quechua | |
Tire | Rapa Nui | |
China | Zhōngguó (中国) | Mandarin |
Colombia | Colombia | Spanish |
Comoros | Comores | French |
Juzur Al-Qamar (جزر القمر) | Standard Arabic | |
Komori | Comorian | |
Congo-Brazzaville | Kongó | Lingala |
Kôngo-Balazvile | Kongo | |
Congo-Kinshasa | Kongo | Luba-Katanga |
Kongó-Kinsásá | Lingala | |
Kôngo | Kongo | |
Kongu | Swahili | |
Cook Islands | Kūki 'Āirani | Cook Islands Maori |
Croatia | Hrvatska | Croatian |
Cyprus | Kıbrıs | Turkish |
Kýpros (Κύπρος) | Greek | |
Czech Republic, Czechia | Česká republika, Česko | Czech |
Denmark | Danmark | Danish |
Djibouti | Jabuuti | Somali |
Jībūtī (جيبوتي) | Standard Arabic | |
Yibuuti | Afar | |
Dominica | Dominique | French |
Wai'tu kubuli | Island Carib | |
East Timor | Timor-Leste | Portuguese |
Timór Lorosa'e | Tetum | |
Ecuador | Ekuatur | Shuar |
Ikwayur | Quechua | |
Egypt | Maṣr (مَصر) | Egyptian Arabic |
Miṣr (مِصر) | Standard Arabic | |
Eritrea | Ertra (ኤርትራ) | Tigrinya |
‘Iritriyā (إرتريا) | Standard Arabic | |
Estonia | Eesti | Estonian |
Ethiopia | Itiyoophiyaa | Afar |
Itoobiya | Somali | |
Itoophiyaa | Oromo | |
ʾĪtyōṗṗyā (ኢትዮጵያ) | Amharic | |
Tigrinya | ||
Fiji | Fijī (फ़िजी) | Fiji Hindi |
Viti | Fijian | |
Finland | Suomi | Finnish |
France | France | French |
Gambia | Gámbi | Wolof |
Kambiya | Mandinka | |
Georgia | Sakartvelo (საქართველო) | Georgian |
Germany | Deutschland | Standard German |
Ghana | Gaana | Twi |
Greece | Elládha (Ελλάδα) | Greek |
Grenada | La Gwenad | Grenadian Creole |
Guinea-Bissau | Guiné-Bissau | Portuguese |
Guinea-Conakry | Ginea-Conakry | Fula |
Guinée-Conakry | French | |
Haiti | Ayiti | Haitian Creole |
Haïti | French | |
Honduras | Honduras | Spanish |
Hong Kong | Xiānggǎng | Chinese |
Hungary | Magyarország | Hungarian |
Iceland | Ísland | Icelandic |
India | Bhaaratham (ഭാരതം) | Malayalam |
Bhārat (भारत) | Marathi | |
Dogri | ||
Hindi | ||
Maithili | ||
Nepali | ||
Bhārat (ભારત) | Gujarati | |
Bhārat (بًارت \ भारत) | Kashmiri | |
Bhārat (بھارت \ ਭਾਰਤ) | Punjabi | |
Bhārat (ڀارت \ भारत) | Sindhi | |
Bhārat (بھارت) | Urdu | |
Bhārata (ಭಾರತ) | Kannada | |
Bhāratam (भारतम्) | Sanskrit | |
Bhārathadeśaṁ (భారతదేశం) | Telugu | |
Bhāratham (பாரதம்) | Tamil | |
Bharot (भारत) | Konkani | |
Bhārot (ভারত) | Bengali | |
Bhārôt (ভাৰত) | Assamese | |
Meitei | ||
Bhārôt (भारत) | Bodo | |
Bhārôtô (ଭାରତ) | Odia | |
Siñôt (ᱥᱤᱧᱚᱛ) | Santali | |
Iran | Irān (ایران) | Persian |
Iraq | Al-'Irāq (اَلْعِرَاق) | Standard Arabic |
Êraq (عێراق) | Kurdish | |
Ireland | Éire | Irish |
Israel | Isrā'īl (إِسْرَائِيل) | Standard Arabic |
Yisraél (ישראל) | Hebrew | |
Italy | Italia | Standard Italian |
Ivory Coast | Côte d'Ivoire | French |
Japan | Nihon / Nippon (日本) | Japanese |
Jordan | Al-'Urdunn (الأردن) | Standard Arabic |
Kazakhstan | Qazaqstan (Қазақстан) | Kazakh |
Kosovo | Kosovë | Albanian |
Kuwait | Al-Kuwait (الكويت) | Standard Arabic |
il-Ikwēt (الكويت) | Gulf Arabic | |
Kyrgyzstan | Kırǧızstan (Кыргызстан) | Kyrgyz |
Laos | Lāo (ລາວ) | Lao |
Latvia | Latvija | Latvian |
Lețmō | Livonian | |
Lebanon | Ləbnēn (لبنان) | Levantine Arabic |
Lubnān (لبنان) | Standard Arabic | |
Libya | Lībiyā (ليبيا) | Standard Arabic |
Lithuania | Lietuva | Lithuanian |
Luxembourg | Lëtzebuerg | Luxembourgish |
Luxemburg | Standard German | |
Madagascar | Madagasikara | Malagasy |
Malawi | Malaŵi | Chewa |
Tumbuka | ||
Malaysia | Mǎláixīyà (马来西亚) | Mandarin |
Maldives | Dhivehi Raajje (ދިވެހިރާއްޖެ ) | Dhivehi |
Mali | Mālī (مالي) | Standard Arabic |
Marshall Islands | Aorōkin M̧ajeļ | Marshallese |
Mauritania | Agawej | Berber |
Cengiṭ | Berber | |
Gànnaar | Wolof | |
Mauritanie | French | |
Moritani | Pulaar | |
Mūrītānyā (موريتانيا) | Standard Arabic | |
Murutaane | Soninke | |
Mauritius | Maurice | French |
Moris | Mauritian Creole | |
Mexico | México | Spanish |
Mēxihco | Nahuatl | |
Moldova | Moldaviya (Молдавия) | Russian |
Monaco | Mónegue | Occitan |
Mùnegu | Ligurian | |
Mongolia | Mongol Uls (Монгол Улс) | Mongolian |
Montenegro | Crna Gora (Црна Гора) | Montenegrin |
Morocco | Al-Maġrib (المغرب) | Standard Arabic |
lmeɣrib (ⵍⵎⵖⵔⵉⴱ) | Standard Moroccan Tamazight | |
Maroc | French | |
Mozambique | Moçambique | Portuguese |
Msumbiji | Swahili | |
Mozambiki | Chewa | |
Muzambhiki | Tsonga | |
Myanmar | Myǎma (မြန်မာ) | Burmese |
Namibia | Namibië | Afrikaans |
Nauru | Naoero | Nauruan |
Nepal | Nepāl (नेपाल) | Nepali |
Netherlands | Nederland | Dutch |
New Zealand | Aotearoa | Maori |
Niger | Al-Nayjar (النيجر) | Standard Arabic |
Nigeria | Naìjíríyà | Igbo |
Naìjíríyà | Yoruba | |
Najeriya | Hausa | |
Niue | Niuē | Niuean |
North Korea | Chosǒn (조선) | Korean |
North Macedonia | Maqedonia e Veriut | Albanian |
Severna Makedonija (Северна Македонија) | Macedonian | |
Norway | Nöörja | Southern Sami |
Noreg | Norwegian Nynorsk | |
Norga | Northern Sami | |
Norge | Norwegian Bokmål | |
Vuodna | Lule Sami | |
Oman | 'Umān (عمان) | Standard Arabic |
Pakistan | Pākistān (پاکِستان) | Urdu |
Palau | Belau | Palauan |
Parao (パラオ) | Japanese | |
Palestine | Filasṭīn (فلسطين) | Standard Arabic |
Panama | Panamá | Spanish |
Papua New Guinea | Papua Niu Gini | Hiri Motu |
Papua Niugini | Tok Pisin | |
Paraguay | Paraguái | Guarani |
Paraguay | Spanish | |
Peru | Perú | Spanish |
Piruw | Aymara | |
Quechua | ||
Philippines | Pilipinas | Tagalog |
Poland | Polska | Polish |
Portugal | Portugal | Portuguese |
Qatar | Giṭar (قطر) | Gulf Arabic |
Qaṭar (قطر) | Standard Arabic | |
Romania | România | Romanian |
Russia | Rossíya (Росси́я) | Russian |
Saint Kitts and Nevis | Saint Christopher and Nevis | English |
Samoa | Sāmoa | Samoan |
Saudi Arabia | al-Suʿūdiyya (ٱلسُّعُودِيَّة) | Standard Arabic |
Senegal | Senegaal | Wolof |
Sénégal | French | |
Serbia | Srbija | Serbian |
Seychelles | Sesel | Seychellois Creole |
Singapore | Ciṅkappūr (சிங்கப்பூர்) | Tamil |
Singapura | Malay | |
Xīnjiāpō (新加坡) | Mandarin | |
Slovakia | Slovensko | Slovak |
Slovenia | Slovenija | Slovene |
Somalia | aṣ-Ṣūmāl (الصومال) | Standard Arabic |
Soomaaliya | Somali | |
Somaliland | Ṣūmālīlānd (صوماليلاند) | Standard Arabic |
South Korea | Hanguk (한국) | Korean |
South Sudan | Paguot Thudän | Dinka |
South Ossetia | Alaniya (Алания) | Russian |
Allonston (Аллонстон) | Ossetian | |
Spain | Espainia | Basque |
España | Galician | |
Spanish | ||
Espanha | Occitan | |
Espanya | Catalan | |
Sri Lanka | Ilaṅkai (இலங்கை) | Tamil |
Śrī Laṁkā (ශ්රී ලංකා) | Sinhala | |
Sudan | as-Sūdān (السودان) | Standard Arabic |
Sweden | Sverige | Swedish |
Switzerland | Helvetia | Latin |
Schweiz | Standard German | |
Suisse | French | |
Svizra | Romansh | |
Svizzera | Standard Italian | |
Syria | Sūriyā (سوريا) | Standard Arabic |
Taiwan | Tâiuân (臺灣) | Hokkien |
Táiwān (臺灣) | Mandarin | |
Taywan | Amis | |
Tǒivǎn (臺灣) | Hakka | |
Tajikistan | Tojikiston (Тоҷикистон) | Tajik |
Thailand | Pratheṣ̄thịy (ประเทศไทย) | Thai |
Transnistria | Nistrenia (Нистрения) | Romanian |
Pridnestrovye (Приднестровье) | Russian | |
Prydnistrovya (Придністров'я) | Ukrainian | |
Tunisia | Tunest | Berber |
Tunisie | French | |
Tūnis (تونس) | Standard Arabic | |
Turkey | Türkiye | Turkish |
Turkmenistan | Türkmenistan | Turkmen |
Uganda | Yuganda | Luganda |
Ukraine | Ukrajina (Україна) | Ukrainian |
Uzbekistan | Oʻzbekiston (Ўзбекистон) | Uzbek |
Vatican City | Stato della Città del Vaticano | Standard Italian |
Status Civitatis Vaticanae | Latin | |
Vietnam | Việt Nam | Vietnamese |
Yemen | Al-Yaman (اَلْيَمَنُ) | Standard Arabic |
The following is a list of other territories/regions which are not deemed as countries or sovereign states.
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Durazzo | Durrës | Albanian | Dated, Italian name |
Tirana | Tiranë | Albanian | Tirana is Albanian for "the Tirana" |
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Algiers | Al-Jazā'ir (الجَزائر) | Standard Arabic | |
Constantine | Qusanṭīnah (قسنطينة) | Standard Arabic | |
Oran | Wahrān (وَهران) | Standard Arabic |
Name of the country and its capital city in Arabic, Al-Jazā'ir (الجزائر), is Arabic for "the islands". [4]
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Ararat Plain | Araratyan dasht (Արարատյան դաշտ) | Armenian | |
Iğdır Ovası | Turkish | ||
Yerevan | Erevan (Երևան) | Armenian | Armenian place pronounced like English name |
Most places in Australia have additional names in various indigenous Australian languages.
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Ayers Rock | Uluru | Pitjantjatjara | Dated |
Rose Hill | Parramatta | Dharug | Archaic |
Tasmania | Lutruwita | Nuenonne / Palawa kani |
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Ammergau Alps | Ammergebirge [5] | German | |
Bavarian Prealps | Bayerische Voralpen [5] | German | |
Brenner Pass | Brennerpass [5] | German | |
Carinthia | Kärnten [6] [5] | German | |
Carpathian Basin | Karpatenbecken [5] | German | |
Danube river | Donau [6] | German | |
Drava | Drau [5] | German | |
Drave | Drau [5] | German | Dated |
Lake Constance | Bodensee [6] [5] | German | |
Northern Limestone Alps | Nördliche Kalkalpen [5] | German | |
Southern Limestone Alps | Südliche Kalkalpen [5] | German | |
Styria | Steiermark [6] [5] | German | |
Tyrol | Tirol [5] | German | |
Vienna | Wien [6] | German | |
Wetterstein | Wettersteingebirge [5] | German |
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Baku | Bakı | Azeri | |
Barda | Bərdə | Azeri | |
Caucasus | Qafqaz | Azeri | |
Ganja | Gəncə | Azeri | |
Lachin | Laçın | Azeri | |
Sumgait | Sumqayıt | Azeri |
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Bielorussia, Byelorussia | Belorussia | Belarusian, Russian | obsolete |
White Russia | Belorussia | Belarusian, Russian | obsolete |
Historically, English borrowed French names for many places in Dutch-speaking areas of Belgium. With a few exceptions this practice is no longer followed by most sources. [7]
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Antwerp | Antwerpen | Dutch | |
Bruges | Brugge | Dutch | French name |
Brussels | Brussel | Dutch | |
Bruxelles | French | ||
Courtrai | Kortrijk | Dutch | Archaic, French name |
Filford | Vilvoorde | Dutch | Archaic |
Flanders | Vlaanderen | Dutch | |
Gaunt | Gent | Dutch | Archaic |
Ghent | Gent | Dutch | |
Louvain | Leuven | Dutch | Archaic, French name |
Mechlin | Mechelen | Dutch | Archaic |
Ostend | Oostende | Dutch | |
Wallonia | Wallonie | French | |
Ypres | Ieper | Dutch | French name |
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Bosnia | Bosna (Босна) | Bosnian | |
Herzegovina | Hercegovina (Херцеговина) | Bosnian | German spelling, English name pronounced the same |
Narenta | Neretva (Неретва) | Bosnian | Italian name, sometimes used in English |
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Balkan Mountains | Stara Planina (Стара Планина) | Bulgarian | |
Danube river | Dunav (Дунав) | Bulgarian | |
Philippopolis | Plovdiv (Пловдив) | Bulgarian | Archaic |
Rhodope Mountains | Rodopi (Родопи) | Bulgarian | |
Sofia | Sofiya (София) | Bulgarian | |
Southern Dobruja | Dobrudzha (Добруджа) | Bulgarian | Bulgarian half of former Dobruja region |
Thrace | Trakiya (Тракия) | Bulgarian |
Numerous places in the predominantly French speaking province of Quebec have historically had English exonyms; in most cases, the exonym was a straight translation of the place's French name, with only one major city[ which? ] which ever had an English exonym that was entirely different from its original French name. With a few exceptions, such as Quebec City, these are no longer widely used. Exonyms are also commonly seen with regard to First Nations and Inuit peoples and communities; although government and media sources have evolved in recent years toward using these places' native endonyms, common usage may still favour the older exonyms.
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Arctic Red River | Tsiigehtchic | Gwich'in | Archaic |
Big Trout Lake | Kitchenuhmaykoosib | Oji-Cree | |
Cambridge Bay | Iqaluktuuttiaq | Inuinnaqtun | |
Chesterfield Inlet | Igluligaarjuk (ᐃᒡᓗᓕᒑᕐᔪᒃ) | Inuktitut | |
Fort Franklin | Délįnę | Sahtu | Archaic |
Fort Hope | Eabametoong | Ojibwe | |
Fort Norman | Tulita | Sahtu | Archaic |
Fraserville | Rivière-du-Loup | French | Archaic |
Frobisher Bay | Iqaluit (ᐃᖃᓗᐃᑦ) | Inuktitut | Archaic |
Gjoa Haven | Uqsuqtuuq (ᐅᖅᓱᖅᑑᖅ) | Inuktitut | |
Holman | Ulukhaktok | Inuinnaqtun | Archaic |
Harrington Lake | Lac Mousseau | French | |
Iroquois River | Rivière Richelieu | French | Archaic |
Island of Orleans | Île d'Orléans | French | |
Lansdowne House | Neskantaga | Oji-Cree | |
Mount Royal | Mont-Royal | French | |
Quebec City | Québec | French | |
Queen Charlotte Island | Haida Gwaii | Haida | Archaic |
Rankin Inlet | Kangiqliniq (ᑲᖏᕿᓂᖅ) | Inuktitut | |
Saint Andrew | Saint-André-d'Argenteuil | French | Archaic |
Saint John | Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu | French | Archaic |
Summer Beaver | Nibinamik (ᓃᐱᓇᒥᐦᐠ) | Ojibwe | |
The River Ouse | La Rivière Grand | French | Archaic |
Kenhionhata:tie | Mohawk | ||
Three Rivers | Trois-Rivières | French | Archaic |
Two Mountains | Deux-Montagnes | French | Archaic |
Whale Cove | Tikiraqjuaq (ᑎᑭᕋᕐᔪᐊᖅ) | Inuktitut |
During the Khmer Rogue period (1975–1979), the country was known in English as Democratic Kampuchea, closer to the endonym than its modern English exonym. The English exonym of Cambodia is based on the French exonym, Cambodge. The endonym is sometimes used in English, but the exonym is far more common.
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Mekong River | Tonle Mekongk (ទន្លេមេគង្គ) | Khmer | |
Phnom Penh | Phnum Pénh (ភ្នំពេញគ) | Khmer | |
Sihanoukville | Krong Preah Sihanouk (ក្រុងព្រះសីហនុ) | Khmer | |
Kampong Som (កំពង់សោម) | Khmer |
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Bangi | Bangî | Sango | Bangi is occasionally used in English |
Bangui | French |
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Easter Island | Isla de Pascua | Spanish | |
Rapa Nui | Rapa Nui | ||
Fireland [8] | Tierra del Fuego | Spanish | Obsolete |
This section needs additional citations for verification .(May 2023) |
Some of the apparent "exonyms" for China are the result of change in romanization of Chinese to modern pinyin, for example "Tientsin" to "Tianjin". Other apparent exonyms are the result of the English name being based on one of the other varieties of Chinese besides Mandarin. Additionally, certain names which may now be considered exonyms actually preserve older Mandarin pronunciations which have changed in the intervening centuries. [9] [10] For all areas in mainland China, names written in Chinese are written in simplified characters. For all areas in the special administrative regions (SARs), the names will be written in traditional characters.
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Amoy | Amoy | Min Nan [11] | Archaic |
Xiàmén (厦门) | Mandarin | ||
Ē-mn̂g | Amoy | ||
Ē-mûi | Amoy | ||
Canton | Guǎngzhōu (广州) | Mandarin | Archaic |
Gwong2 Zau1 | Cantonese | Archaic | |
Changbai Mountain | Chángbáishān (长白山) | Mandarin | |
Paektusan (백두산) | Korean | ||
Chengchow | Zhèngzhōu (郑州) | Mandarin | Archaic, change in romanization |
Chengtu | Chéngdū (成都) | Mandarin | Archaic, change in romanization |
Chungking | Chóngqìng (重庆) | Mandarin | Archaic, change in romanization |
Foochow | Fúzhōu (福州) | Mandarin | Archaic, change in romanization |
Forbidden City | Gùgōng (故宫), Zĭjìnchéng (紫禁城) | Mandarin | Means "Ancient Palace" and "Purple Forbidden City" respectively |
Fukien | Fújiàn (福建) | Mandarin | Archaic, change in romanization |
Gobi Desert | Gēbì Shāmò (戈壁沙漠) | Mandarin | |
Govi (ᠭᠣᠪᠢ) | Mongolian | ||
Hangchow | Hángzhōu (杭州) | Mandarin | Archaic, change in romanization |
Heilungkiang | Hēilóngjiāng (黑龙江) | Mandarin | Archaic, change in romanization |
Khejluntszyan (Хэйлунцзян) | Russian | ||
Hohhot | Kökeqota (ᠬᠥᠬᠡᠬᠣᠲᠠ) | Mongolian | |
Hūhéhàotè (呼和浩特) / Hūshì (呼市) | Mandarin | ||
Hokkien | Fújiàn (福建) | Hokkien | Archaic, but survives in English name of the language |
Hong Kong | Hoeng1 Gong2 (香港) | Cantonese | |
Xiānggǎng | Mandarin | ||
Inner Mongolia | Öbür mongɣul (ᠦᠪᠦᠷ ᠮᠣᠩᠭᠣᠯ) | Mongolian | |
Nèi Mĕnggǔ (内蒙古) | Mandarin | ||
Kalgan | Kalgan(ᠬᠠᠭᠠᠯᠭᠠᠨ) | Mongolian | |
Zhāngjiākŏu (张家口) / Kālāgàn (喀拉干) | Mandarin | Archaic | |
Kwangchow | Gwong2 Zau1 | Cantonese | |
Guǎngzhōu (广州) | Mandarin | Archaic, change in romanization | |
Kweilin | Gveilinz | Zhuang | |
Guìlín (桂林) | Mandarin | Archaic, change in romanization | |
Lop Nor / | Luóbùpō (罗布泊) | Mandarin | |
Lob Nughur (ᠯᠣᠪ ᠨᠠᠭᠤᠷ) | Mongolian script | ||
Lop Nur (لوپنۇر) | Uighur | ||
Macau | Ou3 mun2 (澳門) | Cantonese | |
Àomén (澳门) | Mandarin | ||
Mekong River | Méigōnghé (湄公河) | Mandarin | |
Mount Everest | Zhūmùlǎngmǎ Fēng (珠穆朗玛峰) | Mandarin | |
Chomolungma (ཇོ་མོ་གླང་མ) | Tibetan | ||
Mukden | Mukden | Manchu [12] | Archaic |
Shěnyáng (沈阳) | Mandarin | ||
Nanking | Nánjīng (南京) | Mandarin | Archaic, change in romanization |
Paotou | Bāotóu (包头) | Mandarin | Obsolete English spelling |
Buɣutu qota (ᠪᠤᠭᠤᠲᠤ ᠬᠣᠲᠠ) | Mongolian | ||
Peking | Běijīng (北京) | Mandarin | Archaic, change in romanization |
Port Arthur | Dàlián (大连) | Mandarin | Archaic |
Santow | Shàntóu (汕头) | Mandarin | Archaic |
Shaanxi | Shǎnxī (陕西) | Mandarin | Name spelled using Guoyeu Romatzyh romanization, as the name would be the same as Shanxi using pinyin without tones. |
Sian | Xī'ān (西安) | Mandarin | Archaic, change in romanization |
Sinkiang | Xīnjiāng (新疆) | Mandarin | Archaic, change in romanization |
Soochow | Sūzhōu (苏州) | Mandarin | Archaic, change in romanization |
Swatow | Shàntóu (汕头) | Mandarin | |
Suan1tao5 (汕头) | Teochew | English orthography close to Teochew pronunciation (Teochew 'n' sound is nasal) | |
Szechuan | Sìchuān (四川) | Mandarin | Archaic, change in romanization |
Tibet | Bod (བོད) | Tibetan | |
Xīzàng (西藏) | Mandarin | ||
Tsingtao | Qīngdăo (青岛) | Mandarin | Archaic, change in romanization |
Yangtze River | Cháng jiāng (長江/长江) | Mandarin | Based on the archaic name Yángzĭ Jiāng (揚子江/扬子江) |
Yellow River | Huáng Hé (黃河) | Mandarin | |
Yenchi | Yánjí (延吉) | Mandarin | Archaic, change in romanization |
Yenji (옌지), Yǒnkil (연길) | Korean | ||
Yenki | Yenji (옌지), Yǒnkil (연길) | Korean | |
Yánjí (延吉) | Mandarin |
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Danube | Dunav | Croatian | |
Dalmatia | Dalmacija | Croatian | |
Istria | Istra | Croatian | |
Ragusa | Dubrovnik | Croatian | Historical exonym |
Zara | Zadar | Croatian | Historical exonym |
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Bay of Pigs | Bahía de Cochinos | Spanish | Cochino is one of several Spanish words used to define "pig" |
Havana | (La) Habana | Spanish |
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Place | Language | ||
Famagusta | Ammokhóstos (Αμμόχωστος) | Greek | |
Gazimaǧusa | Turkish | ||
Kyrenia | Girne | Turkish | |
Kerýneia (Κερύνεια) | Greek | ||
Limassol | Lemesós (Λεμεσός) | Greek | |
Limasol | Turkish | ||
Nicosia | Lefkoşa | Turkish | |
Lefkosía (Λευκωσία) | Greek |
Historically, English-language sources used German names for many places in what is now the Czech Republic. With some exceptions (such as the Elbe and Oder rivers, both of which flow into Germany) this is no longer done by most sources. [13]
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Beskids | Beskydy | Czech | |
Bohemia | Čechy | Czech | Latin name |
Bohemian Forest | Šumava | Czech | |
Bohemian Karst | Český kras | Czech | |
Bohemian Paradise | Český ráj | Czech | |
Bohemian Switzerland | České Švýcarsko | Czech | |
Budweis | České Budějovice | Czech | Archaic, German name |
Carlsbad | Karlovy Vary | Czech | Archaic, German name |
Elbe river | Labe | Czech | German name |
Fichtel Mountains | Smrčiny | Czech | German name |
Franzensbad | Františkovy Lázně | Czech | Archaic, German name |
Giant Mountains | Krkonoše | Czech | |
Hanakia | Haná | Czech | Archaic |
Lachia | Lašsko | Czech | |
Marienbad | Mariánské Lázně | Czech | Archaic, German name |
Moravia | Morava | Czech | Latin name |
Moravian Slovakia | Slovácko | Czech | |
Moravian Wallachia | Valašsko | Czech | |
Oder river | Odra | Czech | German name |
Ore Mountains | Krušné hory | Czech | |
Pilsen | Plzeň | Czech | Archaic, German name |
Prague | Praha | Czech | French name |
Silesia | Slezsko | Czech | |
Ślōnsk | Silesian | ||
Sudetes, Sudeten, Sudeten Mountains | Krkonošsko-jesenická subprovincie, Sudety | Czech | |
Sudetenland | Sudety | Czech | |
Upper Palatine Forest | Český les | Czech |
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Copenhagen | København | Danish | |
Elsinore | Helsingør | Danish | Dated |
Funen | Fyn | Danish | |
Jutland | Jylland | Danish | |
Sleswick | Schleswig | Low German | |
Slesvig | Danish | ||
The Scaw | Skagen | Danish | Dated |
Zealand | Sjælland | Danish |
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Thor's Haven | Tórshavn | Danish | Dated |
Several places were known under Danish names, or a variant of them. Now only the local Greenlandic is used.
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Frederikdshab | Paamiut | Greenlandic | Obsolete |
Godthab | Nuuk | Greenlandic | Obsolete |
Jacobshaven | Ilulissat | Greenlandic | Obsolete |
Sondre Stromfjord | Kangerlussuaq | Greenlandic | Obsolete |
Sondrestrom | Kangerlussuaq | Greenlandic | Obsolete |
Thule | Qaanaaq | Greenlandic | Obsolete |
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Alexandria | Al-Iskandariyya (الإسكندرية) | Egyptian Arabic | |
Alexandria (ⲁⲗⲉⲝⲁⲛⲇⲣⲓⲁ) | Coptic | ||
Eskendereyya (اسكندرية) | Egyptian Arabic | ||
Rakote (ⲣⲁⲕⲟϯ ) | Coptic | ||
Cairo | Al-Qāhirah (القاهرة) | Standard Arabic | |
Maṣr (مَصر) | Egyptian Arabic | ||
Giza | Al-Jīzah (الجيزة) | Standard Arabic | |
El-Gīzeh (الجيزة) | Egyptian Arabic | ||
Luxor | Al-Uqṣur (الاقصر) | Standard Arabic | |
Babe (ⲡⲁⲡⲉ) | Coptic | ||
Loqṣor (الأقصر) | Egyptian Arabic | ||
Memphis | Manf (مَنْف) | Standard Arabic | |
Memfi (ⲙⲉⲙϥⲓ) | Coptic | ||
Nile | An-Nīl (النيل) | Standard Arabic | |
En-Nīl (النيل) | Egyptian Arabic | ||
Nilus | Latin | ||
Port Said | Bur Sa'īd (بور سعيد) | Standard Arabic | |
Bor Sa'īd (بور سعيد) | Egyptian Arabic | ||
Suez | As-Suways (السويس) | Standard Arabic |
The English name of Egypt derives from the French name, Egypte, which is derived from the Greek name, Aigyptos (Αίγυπτος). [14]
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Lake Peipus | Peipsi järv | Estonian | |
Reval | Tallinn | Estonian | Obsolete |
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Karelia | Karjala | Finnish | From Latin |
Lapponia | Lappi | Finnish | From Latin |
Ostrobothnia | Pohjanmaa | Finnish | From Latin, compare Swedish Österbotten |
Savonia | Savo | Finnish | From Latin |
Tavastia | Häme | Finnish | From Latin |
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Bay of Biscay | Golfe de Gascogne | French | |
Bethwyn | Béthune | French | Archaic |
Brittany | Breizh | Breton | |
Bretagne | French | ||
Burgundy | Bourgogne | French | |
Camerick | Cambrai | French | Obsolete |
Corsica | Corse | French | |
Corsica | Corsican | ||
Cressy | Crécy-en-Ponthieu | French | |
Dauphiny | Dalfinat | Occitan | |
Darfenât | Arpitan | ||
Dauphiné | French | Archaic | |
Dunkirk | Dunkerque | French | |
English Channel | La Manche | French | |
Flanders | Flandre | French | |
French Riviera | Côte d'Azur | French | |
Gascony | Gascogne | French | |
Gasconha | Gascon | ||
Lyons | Liyon | Arpitan | |
Lyon | French | Archaic | |
Marseilles | Marseille | French | Archaic |
Marselha | Occitan | ||
Normandy | Normandie | French | |
Normaundie | Norman | ||
Picardy | Picardie | French | |
Rheims | Reims | French | Archaic |
Rhine River | Rhin | French | |
Rone | Rouen | French | Obsolete |
Savoy | Savoie | French | |
Savouè | Arpitan | ||
Ushant | Eusa | Breton | |
Ouessant | French |
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Caucasus | Kavkasioni (კავკასიონი) | Georgian | |
Tiflis | Tbilisi (თბილისი) | Georgian | Obsolete |
This list does not include German place names with ß written with "ss" or umlauts being removed in some writing.
The exonym for Greece in English comes from Magna Graecia, which was a historical region in Italy colonized by the Greeks. The endonym Ellás comes from Helen of Troy, the legendary Greek figure whose abduction caused the Greek city-states to unite and fight against Troy during the Trojan War.
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Attica | Attikí (Αττική) | Greek | |
Athens | Athína (Αθήνα) | Greek | |
Boetia | Voiotía (Βοιωτία) | Greek | |
Corfu | Kérkyra (Κέρκυρα) | Greek | |
Corinth | Kórinthos (Κόρινθος) | Greek | |
Crete | Kríti (Κρήτη) | Greek | |
Cyclades | Kykládhes (Κυκλάδες) | Greek | |
Dodecanese | Dhodhekánisa (Δωδεκάνησα) | Greek | |
Epirus | Ipeiros (Ήπειρος) | Greek | |
Euboea | Evvoia (Εύβοια) | Greek | |
Heraklion | Irákleio (Ηράκλειο) | Greek | |
Icaria | Ikaría (Ικαρία) | Greek | |
Ithaca | Itháki (Ιθάκη) | Greek | |
Lepanto | Náfpaktos (Νάυπακτος) | Greek | Archaic |
Macedonia | Makedonía (Μακεδονία) | Greek | |
Mediterranean Sea | Mesógeios thálassa (Μεσόγειος θάλασσα) | Greek | |
Missolonghi | Mesológi (Μεσολόγγι) | Greek | |
Naupactus | Náfpaktos (Νάυπακτος) | Greek | Greek name also used in English |
Navarino | Pýlos (Πύλος) | Greek | Archaic |
Patras | Pátra (Πάτρα) | Greek | |
Peloponnese | Pelopónnisos (Πελοπόννησος) | Greek | |
Philippi | Fílippoi (Φίλιπποι) | Greek | |
Piraeus | Peiraiás (Πειραιάς) | Greek | |
Rhodes | Ródhos (Ρόδος) | Greek | |
Rhodope Mountains | Rodhópi (Ροδόπη) | Greek | |
Salonica | Thessaloníki (Θεσσαλονίκη) | Greek | Archaic |
Samothrace | Samothráki (Σαμοθράκη) | Greek | |
Sparta | Spárti (Σπάρτη) | Greek | |
Thebes | Thíva (Θήβα) | Greek | |
Thessalonica | Thessaloníki (Θεσσαλονίκη) | Greek | Greek name also used in English |
Thessaly | Thessalía (Θεσσαλία) | Greek | |
Thrace | Thráki (Θράκη) | Greek | |
Zante | Zákynthos (Ζάκυνθος) | Greek | Archaic |
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Labadee | Labadie | French |
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Budapest | Budapest | Hungarian | |
Carpathian Mountains | Kárpátok | Hungarian | |
Comorn | Komárom | Hungarian | Dated |
Danube River | Duna | Hungarian | |
Pesth | Pest | Hungarian | Archaic |
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Blue Lagoon | Bláa lónið | Icelandic | |
Westman Islands | Vestmannaeyjar | Icelandic | Dated, translation |
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Allahabad | Prayagraj (प्रयागराज) | Hindi | Officially amended to Prayagraj but still in use in popular culture. |
Allepey | Alappuzha (ആലപ്പുഴ) | Malayalam | Dated |
Bangalore | Bengaluru (ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು) | Kannada | |
Benares | Varanasi (वाराणसी) | Hindi | Dated |
Bombay | Mumbai (मुंबई) | Marathi | Dated |
Calcutta | Kolkata (কলকাতা) | Bengali | Dated |
Cawnpore | Kanpur (कानपुर) | Hindi | Obsolete |
Cochin | Kochi (കൊച്ചി) | Malayalam | |
Delhi | Dilli (दिल्ली) | Hindi | |
Ganges River | Ganga (गंगा) | Hindi | |
Indus River | Sindhū (सिन्धु) | Sanskrit | |
Jaypore | Jaipur (जयपुर) | Hindi | Obsolete |
Laccadive Islands | Lakshadweep (ലക്ഷദ്വീപ്) | Malayalam | Obsolete |
Madras | Chennai (சென்னை) | Tamil | Dated |
Palghat | Palakkad (പാലക്കാട്) | Malayalam | Obsolete |
Pondicherry | Puducherry (புதுச்சேரி) | Tamil | Dated |
Poona | Pune (पुणे) | Marathi | Dated |
Simla | Shimla (शिमला) | Hindi | Obsolete |
Trivandrum | Thiruvananthapuram (തിരുവനന്തപുരം) | Malayalam |
English name | Endonym | Note | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Bencoolen | Bengkulu | Indonesian | Historical |
Billiton | Belitung | Indonesian | Obsolete |
Borneo | Kalimantan | Indonesian | These exonyms are also unofficially used in Indonesia. |
Celebes | Sulawesi | Indonesian | |
Ceram | Seram Island | Indonesian | |
Java | Jawa | Indonesian | |
Lesser Sunda Islands (Nusa Tenggara Islands) | Kepulauan Nusa Tenggara | Indonesian | |
Kepulauan Sunda Kecil | Indonesian | Historical | |
Moluccas | Maluku Islands | Indonesian | |
New Guinea (Papua) | Papua | Indonesian | |
Irian Jaya | Indonesian | Historical | |
Nugini | Indonesian | Fossil word, only in compounds. | |
Savu | Sawu | Indonesian | One of few alternative names for the island. Sabu is officially only used for Sabu Raijua Regency. |
Sabu | Indonesian | ||
Thousand Islands | Kepulauan Seribu | Indonesian |
English name | Endonym | Note | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Bushire | Bushehr (بوشهر) | Persian | Obsolete |
Caspian Sea | Darya-ye Khazar (Khazar Sea) | Persian | |
Isfahan | Ešfahān (اصفهان) | Persian | |
Meshed | Mashhad (مشهد) | Persian | Obsolete |
Teheran | Tehran (تهران) | Persian | Obsolete |
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Ctesiphon | Ṭaysafūn (طيسفون) or Qaṭaysfūn (قطيسفون) | Standard Arabic | |
Duhok | Dahūk (دهوك) | Standard Arabic | |
Dihok (دهۆک) | Kurdish | ||
Beth Nohadra (ܒܝܬ ܢܘܗܕܪܐ) | Syriac | ||
Euphrates River | Al-Furāt (الفرات) | Standard Arabic | |
Firat | Kurdish | ||
Pǝrāth (ܦܪܬ) | Syriac | ||
Mosul | Al-Mawṣil (الموصل) | Standard Arabic | |
Māwṣil (ܡܘܨܠ) | Syriac | ||
Mosil (مووسڵ) | Kurdish | ||
Tigris River | Deqlath (ܕܹܩܠܵܬ) | Syriac | |
Dîcle (دیجلە) | Kurdish | ||
Dijla (دجله) | Standard Arabic |
The vast majority of placenames in Ireland are anglicisations, or phonetic renderings, of Irish language names. The exceptions to this are listed here:
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Arklow | an tInbhear Mór | Irish | |
Carlingford | Cairlinn | Irish | |
Connaught | Connacht | Irish | Dated |
Dalkey | Deilginis | Irish | |
Dursey | Baoi Bhéarra, Oileán Baoi | Irish | |
Dublin | Baile Átha Cliath | Irish | |
Fastnet | Carraig Aonair | Irish | |
Haulbowline | Inis Sionnach | Irish | |
Howth | Binn Éadair | Irish | |
Killarney | Cill Airne | Irish | |
Lambay | Reachrainn | Irish | |
Leinster | Laighin | Irish | |
Leixlip | Léim an Bhrádain | Irish | |
Meath | Mí | Irish | |
Munster | Mumhan | Irish | |
Oxmantown | Baile Lochlannach | Irish | |
Saltee | Na Sailtí | Irish | |
Selskar | Seilsceir | Irish | |
Skerries | Na Sceirí | Irish | |
Strangford | Loch Cuan | Irish | |
Ulster | Ulaidh | Irish | |
Waterford | Port Láirge | Irish | |
Wexford | Loch Garman | Irish | |
Wicklow | Cill Mhantáin | Irish |
The below listing is only a summary. Modern Israeli transcription systems (romanization of Hebrew) vary from the spellings of many hundreds of place names of Ancient Israel adopted by Bible translations - both Christian, such as the King James Version (1611) and also Jewish versions such as the JPS (1917). [15]
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Acre | Ako (עכו) | Modern Hebrew | Greek name |
Beersheba | Beer Sheva' (באר שבע) | Modern Hebrew | |
Capernaum | Kfar Nachum (כפר נחום) | Modern Hebrew | Latin name |
Dead Sea | Āl-Baḥrū l-Maytū (اَلْبَحْرُ الْمَيْتُ) | Standard Arabic | |
Yam hamMelaḥ (ים המלח) | Modern Hebrew | ||
Galilee | haGalil (הגליל) | Modern Hebrew | |
Jaffa | Yafo (יפו) | Modern Hebrew | |
Joppa | Yafo (יפו) | Modern Hebrew | Greek name, dated |
Jordan River | Nahr al-Urdun (نهر الأردن) | Standard Arabic | |
Nahar haYarden (נהר הירדן) | Modern Hebrew | ||
Jerusalem | Ūršalīm (أُورُشَلِيمَ) | Standard Arabic | |
Yerushalayim (ירושלים) | Modern Hebrew | Latin name | |
Nazareth | Natzrat (נצרת) | Modern Hebrew | Greek name |
Sea of Galilee | Imat Tbria (بحيرة طبريا) | Standard Arabic | |
Yamat haKineret (ימת הכינרת) | Modern Hebrew | ||
Safed | Tzfat (צפת) | Modern Hebrew | Arabic name |
Tiberias | Tverya (טבריה) | Modern Hebrew | Greek name |
Many English exonyms were derived from the French variations, such as Rome and Venice.
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Bonin Islands | Ogasawara Guntou (小笠原群島) | Japanese | |
Iwo Jima | Iou-tou (硫黄島) | Japanese | Alternative reading of endonym |
Liancourt Rocks | Takeshima (竹島) | Japanese | |
Ryūkyū Islands | Nansei-shotou (南西諸島) | Japanese | |
Volcano Islands | Kazan Rettou (火山列島) | Japanese |
The English name for Japan derives from the Portuguese name for the country, Japão, which was based on a Chinese transcription of Japan's endonym, Nippon or Nihon (日本). [16]
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Louangphabang | Luang Prabang (ຫລວງພະບາງ) | Lao | Also spelled Luangphabang |
Mekong River | Maenam Khong (ແມ່ນ້ຳຂອງ) | Lao | |
Savannakhet | Kaysone Phomvihane (ໄກສອນ ພົມວິຫານ) | Lao | |
Viangchan [17] | Wīang chan (ວຽງຈັນ) | Lao | |
Vientiane | Lao | from French | |
Wiangchan [18] | Lao |
An older variant of the country's name in English uses the definite article, the Laos, which is now obsolete.
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Courland | Kurzeme | Latvian | |
Lettgallia | Latgale | Latvian | Dated |
Semigallia | Zemgale | Latvian | Dated |
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Sidon | Ṣaydā (صيدا) | Standard Arabic | |
Tyre | Ṣūr (صور) | Standard Arabic | |
Tripoli | Ṭarābulus (طرابلس) | Standard Arabic |
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Cyrenaica | Barqah (برقة) | Standard Arabic | |
Fezzan | Fezzan (ⴼⵣⵣⴰⵏ) | Berber | |
Fizzān (فزان) | Standard Arabic | ||
Misrata | Miṣrātah (مصراتة) | Standard Arabic | |
Sirte | Sirt (سرت) | Standard Arabic | |
Tripoli | Ṭrables | Berber | |
Ṭarābulus (طرابلس) | Standard Arabic | ||
Ṭrābləs (طرابلس) | Maghrebi Arabic | ||
Tripolitania | Ṭrables | Berber | |
Ṭarābulus (طرابلس) | Standard Arabic | ||
Ṭrābləs (طرابلس) | Maghrebi Arabic |
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Neman river | Nemunas | Lithuanian | |
Nieman river | Nemunas | Lithuanian | Dated |
Samogitia | Žemaitija | Lithuanian | |
Sudovia | Sudūva | Lithuanian | |
Yotvingia | Dainava | Lithuanian | |
Vilna or Wilna | Vilnius | Lithuanian | Obsolete |
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Malacca | Melaka | Malay | |
Penang Island | Pulau Pinang | Malay | |
Johore | Johor | Malay |
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Kino Bay | Hermosillo | Spanish | |
Rocky Point | Puerto Peñasco | Spanish | Dated |
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Kishinev | Chişinău | Romanian | Obsolete |
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Gobi Desert | Govi (Говь/ ᠭᠣᠪᠢ) | Mongolian | |
Ulan Bator | Ulaanbaatar (Улаанбаатар/ ᠤᠯᠠᠭᠠᠨᠪᠠᠭᠠᠲᠤᠷ) | Mongolian | Obsolete |
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Casablanca | Ad-Dār Al-Bayḍā' (الدار البيضاء) | Standard Arabic | |
Kaza (كازا) [19] | Moroccan Arabic | Informal name for the city | |
Anfa (ⴰⵏⴼⴰ) | Berber | ||
Fez | Fās (ⴼⴰⵙ) | Berber | |
Fās (فاس) | Standard Arabic | ||
Marrakesh | Murrākuš (مراكش) | Standard Arabic | |
Tangier | Ṭanja (ⵟⴰⵏⵊⴰ) | Berber | |
Ṭanjah (طنجة) | Standard Arabic |
The English name for the country derives from the city name Marrakesh. [20] The Arabic name for the country, al-Magrib (المغرب), is Arabic for "the west".
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Mekong River | Megaung Myit (မဲခေါင်မြစ်) | Burmese | |
Naypyidaw | Nay Pyi Taw (နေပြည်တော်) | Burmese | |
Pagan | Bagan (ပုဂံ) | Burmese | Dated |
Rangoon | Yangon (ရန်ကုန်မြို့) | Burmese | Dated |
Ummerapoora | Amarapura (အမရပူရ) | Burmese | Dated |
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Mount Everest | Sagarmatha (सगरमाथा) | Nepali |
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Brill | Brielle | Dutch | Obsolete |
Dort | Dordrecht | Dutch | Obsolete |
Flushing | Vlissingen | Dutch | Obsolete |
Guelders | Gelderland | Dutch | Dated |
Hook of Holland | Hoek van Holland | Dutch | |
Leyden | Leiden | Dutch | Dated |
Meuse river | Maas | Dutch | French name |
Rhine river | Rijn | Dutch | |
Ryswick | Rijswijk | Dutch | Obsolete |
The Hague | Den Haag | Dutch |
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Bear Island | Bjørnøya | Norwegian | Translation |
North Cape | Davvenjárgga | Northern Sami | |
Nordkapp | Norwegian | ||
Slagen Valley | Slagndarn | Tunsbergian | |
Slagendalen | Norwegian | ||
The Southland | Sørlandet |
The inhabitants of North Korea prefer the official name of the country, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), [21] Chosǒn, or simply Korea.
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Diamond Mountain | Kǔmkang-san (금강산) | Korean | English now uses rough transliteration Mount Kumgang |
Paektu Mountain | Paektu-san (백두산) | Korean | |
Tumen River | Tuman-kang (두만강) | Korean | Mandarin name, as the river borders China |
Yalu River | Amnok-kang (압록강) | Korean | Mandarin name, as the river borders China |
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Bethlehem | Beyt Laḥm (بيت لحم) | Levantine Arabic | |
Bayta Laḥm (بيت لحم) | Standard Arabic | ||
Gaza City | Ġazzah (غَزَّة) | Standard Arabic | |
Hebron | Al-Ḵalīl (الخليل) | Standard Arabic | |
Jericho | Arīḥā (أريحا) | Standard Arabic | |
Jerusalem | Al-Quds (القُدس) | Standard Arabic | Latin name |
Jordan River | Nahr al-Urdun (نهر الأردن) | Standard Arabic |
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Caloocan | Kalookan | Tagalog | |
Cebu | Sugbo | Cebuano | |
Davao | Dabaw | Cebuano | |
Manila | Maynila | Tagalog |
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Auschwitz | Oświęcim | Polish | Dated, German name |
Breslau | Wrocław | Polish | Dated, German name |
Carpathian Mountains | Karpaty | Polish | |
Cracow | Kraków | Polish | |
Danzig | Gdańsk | Polish | Dated, German name |
Galicia | Galicja | Polish | |
Giant Mountains | Karkonosze | Polish | |
Kashubia | Kaszëbë | Kashubian | |
Kaszuby | Polish | ||
Kuyavia | Kujawy | Polish | |
Mazovia | Mazowsze | Polish | |
Mazuria | Mazury | Polish | |
Oder river | Odra | Polish | |
Pomerania | Pomorze | Polish | |
Subcarpathia | Podkarpacie | Polish | |
Sudetes, Sudeten, Sudeten Mountains | Sudety | Polish | |
Silesia | Śląsk | Polish | |
Ślōnsk | Silesian | ||
Vistula river | Wisła | Polish | |
Warsaw | Warszawa | Polish |
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Azores | Açores | Portuguese | Spanish name |
Braganza | Bragança | Portuguese | Dated, Spanish name |
Lisbon | Lisboa | Portuguese | |
Oporto | Porto | Portuguese | Obsolete |
Tagus river | Tejo | Portuguese | Latin name |
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Bucharest | București | Romanian | |
Carpathian Mountains | Carpați | Romanian | |
Danube River | Dunărea | Romanian | |
Jassy | Iași [22] | Romanian | Obsolete |
Northern Dobruja | Dobrogea | Romanian | Romanian half of former Dobruja region |
Transylvania | Transilvania | Romanian | |
Wallachia | Țara Românească, Valahia | Romanian |
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Archangel | Arkhangelsk (Архангельск) | Russian | Dated |
Black Sea | Chernoje (Черное) | Russian | |
Caucasus | Kavkaz (Кавказ) | Russian | |
Caspian Sea | Kaspijskoje more (Каспийское море) | Russian | |
Grozny | Sölƶa-Ġala (Соьлжа-ГӀала) | Chechen | |
Groznyj (Грозный) | Russian | ||
Moscow | Moskva (Москва) | Russian | |
Orel | Oryol (Орёл) | Russian | Obsolete |
Pacific Ocean | Tikhiy okean (Тихий океан) | Russian | |
Plescow | Pskov (Псков) | Russian | Obsolete |
Saint Petersburg | Sankt-Peterburg (Санкт-Петербург) | Russian | |
Siberia | Sibir' (Сибирь) | Russian |
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Arabian Sea | Al-Baḥr al-'Arabī (البحر العربي) | Standard Arabic | |
Empty Quarter | Rub' al Khali (ٱلرُّبْع ٱلْخَالِي) | Standard Arabic | |
Gulf of Aden | Ḫalīǧ ʻAdan (خليج عدن) | Standard Arabic | |
Jeddah | Jiddah (جِدَّة) | Standard Arabic | |
Mecca | Makkah (مکة) | Standard Arabic | |
Medina | Al-Madīnah (المدينة) | Standard Arabic | |
Persian Gulf | Xalij-e fârs (خلیج فارس) | Farsi | |
Al-Khalīj al-ˁArabī (اَلْخَلِيْجُ ٱلْعَرَبِيُّ) | Standard Arabic | ||
Red Sea | Al-Baḥr al-ʾAḥmar (البحر الأحمر) | Standard Arabic | |
Riyadh | Er-Riyāḍ (الرياض) | Najdi Arabic | |
Ar-Riyāḍ (الرياض) | Standard Arabic |
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Balkan Mountains | Stara Planina (Стара Планина) | Serbian | |
Belgrade | Beograd (Београд) | Serbian | French name |
Danube river | Dunav (Дунав) | Serbian |
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Carpathian Mountains | Karpaty | Slovak | |
Cassovia | Košice | Slovak | Latin name |
Danube river | Dunaj | Slovak | |
Gerlach Peak | Gerlachovský štít | Slovak | |
Maple Mountains | Javorníky | Slovak | |
Slovak Ore Mountains | Slovenské rudohorie | Slovak |
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Carinthia | Koroška | Slovene | |
Inner Carniola | Notranjska | Slovene | |
Karawanks | Karavanke | Slovene | |
Karst | Kras | Slovene | |
Lower Carniola | Dolenjska | Slovene | |
Slovene Littoral | Primorska | Slovene | |
Styria | Štajerska | Slovene | |
Upper Carniola | Gorenjska | Slovene |
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Baidoa | Baydhabo | Somali | |
Chisimaio | Kismaayo | Somali | Obsolete |
Mogadishu | Muqdisho | Somali | |
Villabruzzi | Jowhaar | Somali | Dated |
Many South African towns have multiple names due to the number of languages. Additionally, some places have been renamed from English and Afrikaans.
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Aliwal North | Maletswai | Sotho | |
Cape Town | ǁHui!gaeb | Khoekhoe | |
Kaapstad | Afrikaans | ||
iKapa | Xhosa | ||
Fish Hoek | Vishoek | Afrikaans | |
Grahamstown | Grahamstad | Afrikaans | Dated in Afrikaans and English |
iRhini | Xhosa | ||
Makhanda | iRhini | Xhosa | |
Queenstown | Komani | Sotho | |
Simon's Town | Simonstad | Afrikaans |
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Liancourt Rocks | Dokdo (독도) | Korean | |
Port Hamilton | Geomundo (거문도) | Korean | |
Pusan | Busan (부산시) | Korean | Dated |
Quelpart | Jeju (제주도) | Korean | Obsolete |
English uses Spanish-language exonyms for some places in non-Spanish speaking regions of Spain.
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Andalusia | Andalucía | Spanish | |
Basque Country | País Vasco | Spanish | |
Euskadi | Basque | ||
Biscay | Bizkaia | Basque | |
Vizcaya | Spanish | ||
Castile | Castilla | Spanish | |
Catalonia | Catalunya | Catalan | Latin name |
Corunna | A Coruña | Galician | Obsolete |
Douro | Duero | Spanish | Portuguese name |
Majorca | Mallorca | Catalan | Dated |
Minorca | Menorca | Catalan | Dated |
Navarre | Nafarroa | Basque | |
Pampeluna | Pamplona | Spanish | Dated |
Saragossa | Zaragoza | Spanish | Dated |
Seville | Sevilla | Spanish | |
Tagus | Tajo | Spanish | Latin name |
Teneriffe | Tenerife | Spanish | Obsolete, French name |
The Groyne | A Coruña | Galician | Obsolete |
Vittoria | Vitoria-Gasteiz | Compound of the Spanish and Basque names (often used separately) | Dated |
Vitorixe | Basque form of Spanish name |
Sri Lanka was known as Ceylon in English until 1972.
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Adam's Peak | Civaṉoḷipātam (சிவனொளிபாதம்) Civaṉaṭipātam (சிவனடிபாதம்) | Tamil | |
Śrī Pāda (ශ්රී පාද) | Sinhala | ||
Batticaloa | Maṭṭakkaḷappu (மட்டக்களப்பு) | Tamil | |
Madakalapuwa (මඩකලපුව) | Sinhala | ||
Chilaw | Cilāpam (சிலாபம்) | Tamil | |
Halawta (හලාවත) | Sinhala | ||
Colombo | Kolamba (කොළඹ) | Sinhala | |
Kolumpu (கொழும்பு) | Tamil | ||
Delft | Neṭuntīvu (நெடுந்தீவு) | Tamil | |
Ḍelfṭ (ඩෙල්ෆ්ට්) | Sinhala | ||
Galle | Galla (ගාල්ල) | Sinhala | |
Kāli (காலி) | Tamil | ||
Jaffna | Yāḻppāṇam (யாழ்ப்பாணம்) | Tamil | |
Yāpanaya (යාපනය) | Sinhala | ||
Kandy | Kaṇṭi (கண்டி) | Tamil | |
Mahanuwara (මහනුවර) | Sinhala | ||
Kayts | Ūrkāvaṟtuṟai (ஊர்காவற்துறை) | Tamil | |
Kayiṭs (කයිට්ස්) | Sinhala | ||
Mutwal | Modara (මෝදර) | Sinhala | |
Mukattuvāram (முகத்துவாரம்) | Tamil | ||
Negombo | Meegumuwa (මීගමුව) | Sinhala | |
Nirkolompu (நீர்கொழும்பு) | Tamil | ||
Point Pedro | Paruttittuṟai (பருத்தித்துறை) | Tamil | |
Pēduru Tuḍuva (පේදුරු තුඩුව) | Sinhala | ||
Trincomalee | Tirukōṇamalai (திருகோணமலை) | Tamil | |
Thrikunamalaya (ත්රිකුණාමළය) | Sinhala |
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Khartoum | Al-Ḵurṭūm (الخَرطوم) | Standard Arabic | |
El-Ḵortūm (الخَرطوم) | Sudanese Arabic | ||
Nile River | An-Nīl (النيل) | Standard Arabic | |
En-Nīl (النيل) | Sudanese Arabic | ||
Omdurman | Omm Dormān (أُم درمان) | Sudanese Arabic | |
Umm Durmān (أُم درمان) | Standard Arabic | ||
Port Sudan | Burtusudan (بورتسودان) | Standard Arabic | |
Bar'uut | Beja |
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Dalecarlia | Dalarna | Elfdalian | Latin name; Swedish name also used |
Swedish | |||
Gothenburg | Göteborg | Swedish | |
North Bothnia | Norrbotten | Swedish | Swedish name also used |
Scania | Skåne | Swedish | Latin name |
The Dales | Dalarna | Elfdalian | Obsolete; translation of Swedish name |
Swedish | |||
West Bothnia | Västerbotten | Swedish | Swedish name also used in English |
Historically, English-language sources borrowed French-language names for some places in German-speaking Switzerland. This is no longer done, and many sources now use German names for most Swiss German-speaking places. [23]
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Basle | Basel | Standard German | Obsolete |
Berne | Bern | Standard German | Obsolete |
Geneva | Genève | French | |
Genf | Standard German | ||
Lucerne | Luzern | Standard German | |
Rhine River | Rhein | Standard German | |
Valais | Wallis | Standard German |
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Aleppo | Ḥalab (حَلَب) | Standard Arabic | |
Levantine Arabic | |||
Damascus | Dimašq (دِمَشْق) | Standard Arabic | |
Dimaš' (دِمَشْق) | Levantine Arabic | ||
Euphrates River | Al-Furat (الفرات) | Standard Arabic | |
Homs | Ḥimṣ (حِمْص) | Standard Arabic | |
Ḥumṣ (حُمْص) | Levantine Arabic | ||
Palmyra | Tadmur (تَدْمُر) | Standard Arabic | |
Levantine Arabic | |||
Latakia | Al-Lāḏiqīyah (اللاذقية) | Standard Arabic | |
El-Lādi'iyyeh (اللاذقية) | Levantine Arabic |
Thailand was known as Siam in English until the Siamese revolution of 1932.
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Bangkok | Krung Thep (กรุงเทพ) | Thai | Bangkok was the name of a village built on the west bank of the Chao Phraya river before it grew and became the new capital of Siam, after the fall of Ayutthaya in 1767. [24] The city is called Krung Thep among Thai citizens, but Bangkok among non-Thai citizens. The Thai government has attempted to change the official English name to Krung Thep, but the unofficial name of Bangkok remains in common use. |
Junk Ceylon | Phuket (ภูเก็ต) | Thai | Obsolete; a corruption of the Malay Tanjung Salang |
Kanburi | Kanchanaburi (กาญจนบุรี) | Thai | Obsolete |
Mekong River | Maenam Khong (แม่น้ำโขง) | Thai | |
Menam | Maenam Chao Praya (แม่น้ำเจ้าพระยา) | Thai | Obsolete |
Odia | Ayutthaya (อยุธยา) | Thai | Obsolete |
Singora | Songkhla (สงขลา) | Thai | Obsolete |
Zimme | Chiang Mai (เชียงใหม่) | Thai | Obsolete |
This section needs additional citations for verification .(May 2023) |
The main island of Taiwan is also known in English as Formosa. All Chinese names below are written in traditional characters. As mentioned above in the China section, many place names in Taiwan use either pinyin or Wade-Giles.
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Pehoe | Phîⁿ-ô͘ | Hokkien | |
Penghu (澎湖) | Mandarin | Obsolete, from Min Nan name Phênô | |
Pescadores | Phîⁿ-ô͘ | Hokkien | |
Penghu (澎湖) | Mandarin | Dated, Portuguese name | |
Quemoy | Kimoi | Hokkien | |
Kinmen (金門) | Mandarin | Possibly a Spanish or Portuguese transcription of the Zhengzhou Hokkien name for the city, Kim-mûi [25] |
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Gabès | Gābes (قابس) | Maghrebi Arabic | Pronounced similar to English name |
Qābis (قابس) | Standard Arabic | ||
Sfax | Sifaks (ⵙⵉⴼⴰⴽⵙ) | Berber | |
Ṣfāqes (صفاقس) | Maghrebi Arabic | ||
Ṣafaqus (صفاقس) | Standard Arabic | ||
Sousse | Susa | Berber | |
Sūseh (سوسة) | Maghrebi Arabic | ||
Sūsah (سوسة) | Standard Arabic |
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Adalia | Antalya | Turkish | Dated |
Adrianople | Edirne | Turkish | Dated |
Alexandretta | İskenderun | Turkish | Dated |
Anemurium | Anamur | Turkish | Dated |
Antioch | Antakya | Turkish | Dated |
Bosphorus | Boǧaziçi | Turkish | |
Byzantium | İstanbul | Turkish | Obsolete |
Caeserea | Kayseri | Turkish | Dated |
Cappadocia | Kapadokya | Turkish | |
Claudiopolis | Mut | Turkish | Dated |
Constantinople | İstanbul | Turkish | Dated |
Dardanelles | Çanakkale Boǧazı | Turkish | |
Edessa | (Sanlı)urfa | Turkish | Dated |
Ephesus | Efes | Turkish | Dated |
Euphrates River | Fırat | Turkish | |
Gallipoli | Gelibolu | Turkish | Dated |
Halicarnassus | Bodrum | Turkish | Dated |
Heraclea Pontica | Karadeniz Ereǧli | Turkish | Dated |
Iconium | Konya | Turkish | Dated |
Imbros | Gökçeada | Turkish | Greek name |
Istanbul | İstanbul | Turkish | Some consider Istanbul to be an English exonym of İstanbul. [26] Normally spelled without İ in English, even in sources which would otherwise use it. [27] |
Kerasous | Giresun | Turkish | Dated |
Laranda | Karaman | Turkish | Dated |
Magnesia ad Sipylum | Manisa | Turkish | Dated |
Nicaea | Iznik | Turkish | Dated |
Nicomedia | Izmit | Turkish | Dated |
Pergamon | Bergama | Turkish | Dated |
Philadelphia | Alaşehir | Turkish | Dated |
Prusa | Bursa | Turkish | Dated |
Scutari | Üsküdar | Turkish | Dated [28] |
Seleucia | Silifke | Turkish | Dated |
Smyrna | İzmir | Turkish | Dated |
Tenedos | Bozcaada | Turkish | Greek name |
Thrace | Trakya | Turkish | |
Tigris River | Dicle | Turkish | |
Tralles | Aydın | Turkish | Dated |
Trebizond | Trabzon | Turkish | Dated |
In June 2022, the United Nations agreed to change the country's official name in English as Türkiye at the request of the Turkish government. [29] However, the majority of English speakers still refer to the country as Turkey in daily use.
English name | Endonym | Notes | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | |||
Black Sea | Chorne (Чорне) | Ukrainian | ||
Carpathian Ruthenia | Karpatska Rus' (Карпатська Русь) | Ukrainian | Historic region | |
Carpathian Ukraine | Karpatska Ukrayina (Карпатська Україна) | Ukrainian | Historic region | |
Chernobyl | Chornobyl (Чорнобиль) | Ukrainian | Russian name | |
Crimea | Krym (Крим) | Ukrainian | Region claimed by Russia, but many nations do not recognize it as part of Russia [30] | |
Danube River | Dunai (Дунай) | Ukrainian | ||
Galicia | Halychyna (Галичина) | Ukrainian | Historic region | |
Gorlovka | Horlivka (Горлівка) | Ukrainian | Archaic, Russian name | |
Kharkov | Kharkiv (Харків) | Ukrainian | Archaic, Russian name | |
Kiev | Kyiv (Київ) | Ukrainian | Russian name; though the Russian endonym Kiev prevailed after the Soviet Union ended in 1991, in the late 2010s media outlets and governments began using Kyiv at the request of the Ukrainian government. | |
Krivoy Rog | Kryvyi Rih (Кривиі Ріг) | Ukrainian | Archaic, Russian name | |
Podolia | Podillia (Поділля) | Ukrainian | Historic region | |
Subcarpathia | Pidkarpattia (Підкарпаття) | Ukrainian | Historic region | |
Subcarpathian Ruthenia, Subcarpathian Rus | Pidkarpatska Rus' (Підкарпатська Русь) | Ukrainian | Historic region | |
Transcarpathia | Zakarpattia (Закарпаття) | Ukrainian | ||
Transcarpathian Ukraine | Zakarpatska Ukrayina (Закарпатська Україна) | Ukrainian | ||
Volhynia | Volyn' (Волинь) | Ukrainian | Historic region |
The places listed are where non-English local languages are mainly used or where the non-English names do not regularly correspond to the English one.
Several places in the United States have additional names in various Native languages.
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Allegheny River | Ohi:'i:o | Seneca | |
Mount McKinley | Denali | Koyukon | See Denali-Mount McKinley naming dispute |
Mount Rainier | Tacoma | Salish | |
Red House | Joë'hesta | Seneca |
All cities and towns are often spelled without diacritics; names without them are not listed here.
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Annamite Range | Dãy Trường Sơn | Vietnamese | |
Black River | Sông Đà | Vietnamese | |
Faifo [31] | Hội An | Vietnamese | Obsolete |
Fansipan | Phan Xi Păng | Vietnamese | |
Ha Long Bay | Vịnh Hạ Long | Vietnamese | |
Ho Chi Minh City | Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh | Vietnamese | |
Marble Mountains | Ngũ Hành Sơn | Vietnamese | Vietnamese name means "Five Elements Mountains" |
Mekong River | Sông Mê Kông / Sông Cửu Long | Vietnamese | |
Perfume River | Sông Hương | Vietnamese | Vietnamese name means "Fragrant River" |
Red River | Sông Hồng | Vietnamese | |
West Lake | Hồ Tây | Vietnamese |
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Socotra | Suquṭrā (سُقُطْرَىٰ) | Standard Arabic | |
Saqatri (ساقطري) | Soqotri |
A diacritic is a glyph added to a letter or to a basic glyph. The term derives from the Ancient Greek διακριτικός, from διακρίνω. The word diacritic is a noun, though it is sometimes used in an attributive sense, whereas diacritical is only an adjective. Some diacritics, such as the acute ⟨ó⟩, grave ⟨ò⟩, and circumflex ⟨ô⟩, are often called accents. Diacritics may appear above or below a letter or in some other position such as within the letter or between two letters.
Toponymy, toponymics, or toponomastics is the study of toponyms, including their origins, meanings, usage and types. Toponym is the general term for a proper name of any geographical feature, and full scope of the term also includes proper names of all cosmographical features.
A phonemic orthography is an orthography in which the graphemes correspond consistently to the language's phonemes, or more generally to the language's diaphonemes. Natural languages rarely have perfectly phonemic orthographies; a high degree of grapheme–phoneme correspondence can be expected in orthographies based on alphabetic writing systems, but they differ in how complete this correspondence is. English orthography, for example, is alphabetic but highly nonphonemic.
Cyrillization or Cyrillisation is the process of rendering words of a language that normally uses a writing system other than Cyrillic script into the Cyrillic alphabet. Although such a process has often been carried out in an ad hoc fashion, the term "cyrillization" usually refers to a consistent system applied, for example, to transcribe names of German, Chinese, or English people and places for use in Russian, Ukrainian, Serbian, Macedonian or Bulgarian newspapers and books. Cyrillization is analogous to romanization, when words from a non-Latin script-using language are rendered in the Latin alphabet for use
Most countries of the world have different names in different languages. Some countries have also undergone name changes for political or other reasons. Countries are listed alphabetically by their most common name in English. Each English name is followed by its most common equivalents in other languages, listed in English alphabetical order by name and by language. Historical and/or alternative versions, where included, are noted as such. Foreign names that are the same as their English equivalents are also listed. See also: List of alternative country names
An endonym is a common, native name for a group of people, individual person, geographical place, language, or dialect, meaning that it is used inside a particular group or linguistic community to identify or designate themselves, their place of origin, or their language.
Many places in Central Europe, mostly in the former German Empire and Austria-Hungary but now in non-German-speaking countries, traditionally had names in the German language. Many such names have been used for centuries by the German presence in the area dating back to Ostsiedlung, while some others were simply German transliterations of local names or names invented in the 19th and 20th centuries.
There are many widely varying names of Germany in different languages, more so than for any other European nation. For example:
Below is a list of German language exonyms for formerly German places and other places in non-German-speaking areas of the world. Archaic names are in italics.
The following is a list of Czech exonyms, that is to say names for places that do not speak Czech that have been adapted to Czech phonological system and spelling rules, or are simply native names from ancient times. Note that a large number of the names on the list below are archaic, no longer in use in contemporary Czech.
As a general rule, modern Norwegian does not use exonyms for names with endonyms in Latin script. Historically, several Danish/German exonyms have been in use, due to the Danish roots of the Bokmål variety of Norwegian, but these exonyms should be considered archaic, and are no longer used officially.
The ethnonyms for the Poles (people) and Poland include endonyms and exonyms. Endonyms and most exonyms for Poles and Poland derive from the name of the West Slavic tribe of Polans (Polanie), while in some languages the exonyms for Poland to derive from the name of another tribe – the Lendians (Lędzianie).
The indigenous population of the Maghreb region of North Africa encompass a diverse grouping of several heterogenous ethnic groups who predate the arrival of Arabs in the Arab migration to the Maghreb. They are collectively known as Berbers or Amazigh in English. The native plural form Imazighen is sometimes also used in English. While "Berber" is more widely known among English-speakers, its usage is a subject of debate, due to its historical background as an exonym and present equivalence with the Arabic word for "barbarian." When speaking English, indigenous North Africans typically refer to themselves as "Amazigh."
Below is a list of Vietnamese exonyms for various places around the world:
Japanese exonyms are the names of places in the Japanese language that differ from the name given in the place's dominant language.