English exonyms
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.
General
This section lists English-language exonyms that are for places located in multiple countries, English names of countries, and typical patterns.
Countries and territories
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 |
---|---|---|
![]() | Aṗsny (Аԥсны) | Abkhaz |
Abkhaziya (Абхазия) | Russian | |
![]() | Afġānestān (افغانستان) | Dari |
Afġānistān (افغانستان) | Pashto | |
![]() | Shqipëri(a) | Standard Albanian |
Shqipyni(a) | Gheg Albanian | |
![]() | Al-Dzāyīr (الدزاير) | Maghrebi Arabic |
Al-Jazā'ir (الجزائر) | Standard Arabic | |
![]() | Hayastan (Հայաստան) | Armenian |
![]() | Österreich | Standard German |
![]() | Azərbaycan | Azeri |
![]() | Al-Baḥrayn (البحرين) | Standard Arabic |
![]() | বাংলাদেশ (Bangladesh) | Bengali |
![]() | Byelarus’ (Беларусь) | Belarusian |
Russian | ||
![]() | België | Dutch |
Belgien | Standard German | |
Belgique | French | |
![]() | Bénin | French |
![]() | Druk Yul (འབྲུག་ཡུལ་) | Dzongkha |
![]() | Mborivia | Guarani |
Puliwya | Quechua | |
Wuliwya | Aymara | |
![]() | Bosna & Hercegovina (Босна & Херцеговина) | Bosnian |
![]() | Brasil | Portuguese |
![]() | Balgariya (България) | Bulgarian |
![]() | Burkĩna Faso | Mossi |
![]() | Uburundi | Kirundi |
![]() | Kampuciə (កម្ពុជា) | Khmer |
![]() | Cameroun | French |
Kamerun | Fula | |
![]() | Cabo Verde | Portuguese |
Kabu Verdi | Cape Verdean Creole | |
![]() | Tchad | French |
Tshād (تشاد) | Standard Arabic | |
![]() | Chili | Aymara |
Chli | Mapudungun | |
Chili | Quechua | |
Tire | Rapa Nui | |
![]() | Zhōngguó (中国) | Mandarin |
![]() | Colombia | Spanish |
![]() | Comores | French |
Juzur Al-Qamar (جزر القمر) | Standard Arabic | |
Komori | Comorian | |
![]() | Kongó | Lingala |
Kôngo-Balazvile | Kongo | |
![]() | Kongo | Luba-Katanga |
Kongó-Kinsásá | Lingala | |
Kôngo | Kongo | |
Kongu | Swahili | |
![]() | Kūki 'Āirani | Cook Islands Maori |
![]() | Hrvatska | Croatian |
![]() | Kıbrıs | Turkish |
Kýpros (Κύπρος) | Greek | |
![]() | Česká republika, Česko | Czech |
![]() | Danmark | Danish |
![]() | Jabuuti | Somali |
Jībūtī (جيبوتي) | Standard Arabic | |
Yibuuti | Afar | |
![]() | Dominique | French |
Wai'tu kubuli | Island Carib | |
![]() | Timor-Leste | Portuguese |
Timór Lorosa'e | Tetum | |
![]() | Ekuatur | Shuar |
Ikwayur | Quechua | |
![]() | Maṣr (مَصر) | Egyptian Arabic |
Miṣr (مِصر) | Standard Arabic | |
![]() | Ertra (ኤርትራ) | Tigrinya |
‘Iritriyā (إرتريا) | Standard Arabic | |
![]() | Eesti | Estonian |
![]() | Itiyoophiyaa | Afar |
Itoobiya | Somali | |
Itoophiyaa | Oromo | |
ʾĪtyōṗṗyā (ኢትዮጵያ) | Amharic | |
Tigrinya | ||
![]() | Fijī (फ़िजी) | Fiji Hindi |
Viti | Fijian | |
![]() | Suomi | Finnish |
![]() | France | French |
![]() | Gámbi | Wolof |
Kambiya | Mandinka | |
![]() | Sakartvelo (საქართველო) | Georgian |
![]() | Deutschland | Standard German |
![]() | Gaana | Twi |
![]() | Elládha (Ελλάδα) | Greek |
![]() | La Gwenad | Grenadian Creole |
![]() | Guiné-Bissau | Portuguese |
![]() | Ginea-Conakry | Fula |
Guinée-Conakry | French | |
![]() | Ayiti | Haitian Creole |
Haïti | French | |
![]() | Honduras | Spanish |
![]() | Xiānggǎng | Chinese |
![]() | Magyarország | Hungarian |
![]() | Ísland | Icelandic |
![]() | 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 | |
![]() | Irān (ایران) | Persian |
![]() | Al-'Irāq (اَلْعِرَاق) | Standard Arabic |
Êraq (عێراق) | Kurdish | |
![]() | Éire | Irish |
![]() | Isrā'īl (إِسْرَائِيل) | Standard Arabic |
Yisraél (ישראל) | Hebrew | |
![]() | Italia | Standard Italian |
![]() | Côte d'Ivoire | French |
![]() | Nihon / Nippon (日本) | Japanese |
![]() | Al-'Urdunn (الأردن) | Standard Arabic |
![]() | Qazaqstan (Қазақстан) | Kazakh |
![]() | Kosovë | Albanian |
![]() | Al-Kuwait (الكويت) | Standard Arabic |
il-Ikwēt (الكويت) | Gulf Arabic | |
![]() | Kırǧızstan (Кыргызстан) | Kyrgyz |
![]() | Lāo (ລາວ) | Lao |
![]() | Latvija | Latvian |
Lețmō | Livonian | |
![]() | Libnēn (لبنان) | Levantine Arabic |
Lubnān (لبنان) | Standard Arabic | |
![]() | Lībiyā (ليبيا) | Standard Arabic |
![]() | Lietuva | Lithuanian |
![]() | Lëtzebuerg | Luxembourgish |
Luxemburg | Standard German | |
![]() | Madagasikara | Malagasy |
![]() | Malaŵi | Chewa |
Tumbuka | ||
![]() | Mǎláixīyà (马来西亚) | Mandarin |
![]() | Dhivehi Raajje (ދިވެހިރާއްޖެ ) | Dhivehi |
![]() | Mālī (مالي) | Standard Arabic |
![]() | Aorōkin M̧ajeļ | Marshallese |
![]() | Agawej | Berber |
Cengiṭ | Berber | |
Gànnaar | Wolof | |
Mauritanie | French | |
Moritani | Pulaar | |
Mūrītānyā (موريتانيا) | Standard Arabic | |
Murutaane | Soninke | |
![]() | Maurice | French |
Moris | Mauritian Creole | |
![]() | México | Spanish |
Mēxihco | Nahuatl | |
![]() | Moldaviya (Молдавия) | Russian |
![]() | Mónegue | Occitan |
Mùnegu | Ligurian | |
![]() | Mongol Uls (Монгол Улс) | Mongolian |
![]() | Crna Gora (Црна Гора) | Montenegrin |
![]() | Al-Maġrib (المغرب) | Standard Arabic |
lmeɣrib (ⵍⵎⵖⵔⵉⴱ) | Standard Moroccan Tamazight | |
Maroc | French | |
![]() | Moçambique | Portuguese |
Msumbiji | Swahili | |
Mozambiki | Chewa | |
Muzambhiki | Tsonga | |
![]() | Myǎma (မြန်မာ) | Burmese |
![]() | Namibië | Afrikaans |
![]() | Naoero | Nauruan |
![]() | Nepāl (नेपाल) | Nepali |
![]() | Nederland | Dutch |
![]() | Aotearoa | Maori |
![]() | Al-Nayjar (النيجر) | Standard Arabic |
![]() | Naìjíríyà | Igbo |
Naìjíríyà | Yoruba | |
Najeriya | Hausa | |
![]() | Niuē | Niuean |
![]() | Chosǒn (조선) | Korean |
![]() | Maqedonia e Veriut | Albanian |
Severna Makedonija (Северна Македонија) | Macedonian | |
![]() | Nöörja | Southern Sami |
Noreg | Norwegian Nynorsk | |
Norga | Northern Sami | |
Norge | Norwegian Bokmål | |
Vuodna | Lule Sami | |
![]() | 'Umān (عمان) | Standard Arabic |
![]() | Pākistān (پاکِستان) | Urdu |
![]() | Belau | Palauan |
Parao (パラオ) | Japanese | |
![]() | Filasṭīn (فلسطين) | Standard Arabic |
![]() | Panamá | Spanish |
![]() | Papua Niu Gini | Hiri Motu |
Papua Niugini | Tok Pisin | |
![]() | Paraguái | Guarani |
Paraguay | Spanish | |
![]() | Perú | Spanish |
Piruw | Aymara | |
Quechua | ||
![]() | Pilipinas | Tagalog |
![]() | Polska | Polish |
![]() | Portugal | Portuguese |
![]() | Giṭar (قطر) | Gulf Arabic |
Qaṭar (قطر) | Standard Arabic | |
![]() | România | Romanian |
![]() | Rossíya (Росси́я) | Russian |
![]() | Saint Christopher and Nevis | English |
![]() | Sāmoa | Samoan |
![]() | al-Suʿūdiyya (ٱلسُّعُودِيَّة) | Standard Arabic |
![]() | Senegaal | Wolof |
Sénégal | French | |
![]() | Srbija | Serbian |
![]() | Sesel | Seychellois Creole |
![]() | Ciṅkappūr (சிங்கப்பூர்) | Tamil |
Singapura | Malay | |
Xīnjiāpō (新加坡) | Mandarin | |
![]() | Slovensko | Slovak |
![]() | Slovenija | Slovene |
![]() | aṣ-Ṣūmāl (الصومال) | Standard Arabic |
Soomaaliya | Somali | |
![]() | Ṣūmālīlānd (صوماليلاند) | Standard Arabic |
![]() | Hanguk (한국) | Korean |
![]() | Paguot Thudän | Dinka |
![]() | Alaniya (Алания) | Russian |
Allonston (Аллонстон) | Ossetian | |
![]() | Espainia | Basque |
España | Galician | |
Spanish | ||
Espanha | Occitan | |
Espanya | Catalan | |
![]() | Ilaṅkai (இலங்கை) | Tamil |
Śrī Laṁkā (ශ්රී ලංකා) | Sinhala | |
![]() | as-Sūdān (السودان) | Standard Arabic |
![]() | Sverige | Swedish |
![]() | Helvetia | Latin |
Schweiz | Standard German | |
Suisse | French | |
Svizra | Romansh | |
Svizzera | Standard Italian | |
![]() | Sūriyā (سوريا) | Standard Arabic |
![]() | Tâiuân (臺灣) | Hokkien |
Táiwān (臺灣) | Mandarin | |
Taywan | Amis | |
Tǒivǎn (臺灣) | Hakka | |
![]() | Tojikiston (Тоҷикистон) | Tajik |
![]() | Pratheṣ̄thịy (ประเทศไทย) | Thai |
![]() | Nistrenia (Нистрения) | Romanian |
Pridnestrovye (Приднестровье) | Russian | |
Prydnistrovya (Придністров'я) | Ukrainian | |
![]() | Tunest | Berber |
Tunisie | French | |
Tūnis (تونس) | Standard Arabic | |
![]() | Türkiye | Turkish |
![]() | Türkmenistan | Turkmen |
![]() | Yuganda | Luganda |
![]() | Ukrajina (Україна) | Ukrainian |
![]() | Oʻzbekiston (Ўзбекистон) | Uzbek |
![]() | Stato della Città del Vaticano | Standard Italian |
Status Civitatis Vaticanae | Latin | |
![]() | Việt Nam | Vietnamese |
![]() | Al-Yaman (اَلْيَمَنُ) | Standard Arabic |
Other territories
The following is a list of other territories/regions which are not deemed as countries or sovereign states.
English name | Endonym | Language |
---|---|---|
![]() | Elsass | German |
Elsàss | Alsatian | |
![]() | País Vasco | Spanish |
Euskadi | Basque | |
![]() | Bayern | German |
Boarn | Bavarian | |
![]() | Čechy | Czech |
Böhmen | German | |
![]() | Bretagne | French |
Breizh | Breton | |
![]() | Catalunya | Catalan |
Cataluña | Spanish | |
![]() | Kernow | Cornish |
![]() | Corse | French |
![]() | Krym (Крым) | Russian |
Krym (Крим ) | Ukrainian | |
Qırım | Crimean Tatar | |
![]() | Færøerne | Danish |
Føroyar | Faroese | |
![]() | Vlaanderen | Dutch |
![]() | Fryslân | Frisian |
![]() | Galiza | Galician |
![]() | Grønland | Danish |
Kalaallit Nunaat | Greenlandic | |
![]() | Hawai‘i | Hawaiian |
![]() | Kaszuby | Polish |
Kaszëbë | Kashubian | |
![]() | Kurdistan (کوردستان) | Sorani Kurdish |
Kurdistān (كردستان) | Arabic | |
Persian | ||
Kürdistan | Turkish | |
K’urdistan (Քուրդիստան) | Armenian | |
Kurdıstan | Zazaki | |
![]() | Lombardia | Italian |
![]() | Morava | Czech |
Mähren | German | |
![]() | Normandie | French |
Normaundie | Norman | |
![]() | Tuaisceart Éireann | Irish |
Norlin Airlann | Ulster Scots | |
![]() | Occitanie | French |
Occitània | Occitan | |
![]() | Piemonte | Italian |
Piemont | Piedmontese | |
![]() | Pomorze | Polish |
Pommern | German | |
![]() | Québec | French |
![]() | Sardegna | Italian |
Sardigna | Sardinian | |
![]() | Alba | Scottish Gaelic |
![]() | Sicilia | Italian |
Sicilian | ||
![]() | Śląsk | Polish |
Slezsko | Czech | |
Ślōnsk | Silesian | |
Schlesien | German | |
![]() | Xīzàng (西藏) | Mandarin |
Böd (བོད) | Tibetan | |
![]() | Cymru | Welsh |
![]() | Wallonie | French |
Specific countries
Albania
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Durazzo | Durrës | Albanian | Dated, Italian name |
Tirana | Tiranë | Albanian | Tirana is Albanian for "the Tirana" |
Algeria
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]
Armenia
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 |
Australia
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 |
Austria
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 |
Azerbaijan
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Baku | Bakı | Azeri | |
Barda | Bərdə | Azeri | |
Caucasus | Qafqaz | Azeri | |
Ganja | Gəncə | Azeri | |
Lachin | Laçın | Azeri | |
Sumgait | Sumqayıt | Azeri |
Belarus
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Bielorussia, Byelorussia | Belorussia | Belarusian, Russian | obsolete |
White Russia | Belorussia | Belarusian, Russian | obsolete |
Belgium
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 |
Bosnia & Herzegovina
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 |
Bulgaria
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 |
Canada
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 |
Cambodia
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 |
Central African Republic
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Bangi | Bangî | Sango | Bangi is occasionally used in English |
Bangui | French |
Chile
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Easter Island | Isla de Pascua | Spanish | |
Rapa Nui | Rapa Nui | ||
Fireland[8] | Tierra del Fuego | Spanish | Obsolete |
China
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 |
Croatia
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 |
Cuba
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 |
Cyprus
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 |
Czech Republic
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 |
Denmark
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 |
Faroe Islands
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Thor's Haven | Tórshavn | Danish | Dated |
Greenland
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 |
Egypt
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]
Estonia
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Lake Peipus | Peipsi järv | Estonian | |
Reval | Tallinn | Estonian | Obsolete |
Finland
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 |
France
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 |
Georgia
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Caucasus | Kavkasioni (კავკასიონი) | Georgian | |
Tiflis | Tbilisi (თბილისი) | Georgian | Obsolete |
Germany
This list does not include German place names with ß written with "ss" or umlauts being removed in some writing.
Greece
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 |
Haiti
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Labadee | Labadie | French |
Hungary
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 |
Iceland
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Blue Lagoon | Bláa lónið | Icelandic | |
Westman Islands | Vestmannaeyjar | Icelandic | Dated, translation |
India
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 |
Indonesia
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 |
Iran
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 |
Iraq
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 |
Ireland
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 |
Israel
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 |
Italy
Many English exonyms were derived from the French variations, such as Rome and Venice.
Japan
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]
Laos
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.
Latvia
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Courland | Kurzeme | Latvian | |
Lettgallia | Latgale | Latvian | Dated |
Semigallia | Zemgale | Latvian | Dated |
Lebanon
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Sidon | Ṣaydā (صيدا) | Standard Arabic | |
Tyre | Ṣūr (صور) | Standard Arabic | |
Tripoli | Ṭarābulus (طرابلس) | Standard Arabic |
Libya
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 |
Lithuania
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 |
Malaysia
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Malacca | Melaka | Malay | |
Penang Island | Pulau Pinang | Malay | |
Johore | Johor | Malay |
Mexico
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Kino Bay | Hermosillo | Spanish | |
Rocky Point | Puerto Peñasco | Spanish | Dated |
Moldova
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Kishinev | Chişinău | Romanian | Obsolete |
Mongolia
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Gobi Desert | Govi (Говь/ ᠭᠣᠪᠢ) | Mongolian | |
Ulan Bator | Ulaanbaatar (Улаанбаатар/ ᠤᠯᠠᠭᠠᠨᠪᠠᠭᠠᠲᠤᠷ) | Mongolian | Obsolete |
Morocco
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".
Myanmar
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 |
Nepal
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Mount Everest | Sagarmatha (सगरमाथा) | Nepali |
Netherlands
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 |
Norway
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 |
North Korea
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 |
Palestine
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 |
Philippines
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Caloocan | Kalookan | Tagalog | |
Cebu | Sugbo | Cebuano | |
Davao | Dabaw | Cebuano | |
Manila | Maynila | Tagalog |
Poland
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 |
Portugal
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 |
Romania
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 |
Russia
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 |
Saudi Arabia
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 |
Serbia
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Balkan Mountains | Stara Planina (Стара Планина) | Serbian | |
Belgrade | Beograd (Београд) | Serbian | French name |
Danube river | Dunav (Дунав) | Serbian |
Slovakia
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 |
Slovenia
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 |
Somalia
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Baidoa | Baydhabo | Somali | |
Chisimaio | Kismaayo | Somali | Obsolete |
Mogadishu | Muqdisho | Somali | |
Villabruzzi | Jowhaar | Somali | Dated |
South Africa
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 |
South Korea
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 |
Spain
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
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 |
Sudan
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 |
Sweden
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 |
Switzerland
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 |
Syria
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
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. |
Mekong River | Maenam Khong (แม่น้ำโขง) | Thai | |
Singora | Songkhla (สงขลา) | Thai | Obsolete |
Taiwan
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] |
Tunisia
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 |
Turkey
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.
Ukraine
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 |
United Kingdom
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.
United States
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 |
Vietnam
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 |
Yemen
English name | Endonym | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|
Name | Language | ||
Socotra | Suquṭrā (سُقُطْرَىٰ) | Standard Arabic | |
Saqatri (ساقطري) | Soqotri |
See also
- List of European exonyms
- List of European regions with alternative names
- List of European rivers with alternative names
- List of English exonyms for German toponyms—some no longer current
- List of renamed Indian public places—some without current acceptance
References
- ^ Peeter Päll, Estonia, "Do Romanization Systems Create Exonyms?" UN Group of Experts on Geographical Names, Working Group on Romanization Systems (2002)
- ^ Exonyms and the International Standardisation of Geographical Names Peter Jordan, Milan Orožen Adamič, Paul Woodman - 2007- Page 16 "2.2.11 This brings us on to the question of romanization. Does the application of a romanization system turn an endonym into an exonym? In his GeoNames 2000 paper Do Romanization Systems Create Exonyms?, Peeter Päll argued convincingly.."
- ^ M. B. Hooker Laws of South-East Asia: The pre-modern texts 1986 - Page 23 "Place names such as Rangoon, Mandalay, Pegu and Moulmein have been left in the English form which is familiar to the non-Burmese reader. Personal names also have been left in the old romanization which seems to be familiar to.."
- ^ "algeria | Search Online Etymology Dictionary". www.etymonline.com. Retrieved 2023-09-14.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Utrata Fachwörterbuch: Geographie - Englisch-Deutsch/Deutsch-Englisch by Jürgen Utrata (2014). Retrieved 10 Apr 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f Worsch, Wolfgang (2004). Langenscheidt Muret-Sanders Großwörterbuch, Teil II, Deutsch-Englisch , Langenscheidt KG, Berlin, Munich, Vienna, Zurich, New York, pp. 1269-1272. ISBN 3-468-02126-7.
- ^ Willemyns, Roland. Dutch: Biography of a Language. Oxford University Press. 2013.
- ^ "Tierra del Fuego Province (Argentina)". www.crwflags.com. Retrieved 2020-12-17.
- ^ Kaske, Elisabeth (2008). "The Politics of Language in Chinese Education". Brill. p. 52. ISBN 978-9004163676.
- ^ Man, Bosat (June 1990). "Backhill/Peking/Beijing" (PDF). Sino-Platonic Papers (19): 5.
- ^ Chew, Phillis Ghim-Lian (2013). Emergent Lingua Francas and World Orders: The Politics and Place of English as a World Language. Routledge. p. 254. ISBN 978-1135235567.
- ^ Forêt, Philippe (2000). Mapping Chengde: The Qing Landscape Enterprise. University of Hawaii Press. p. xv. ISBN 9780824822934.
- ^ Webb, Adrian. The Routledge Companion to Central and Eastern Europe since 1919. 2008.
- ^ "egypt | Search Online Etymology Dictionary". www.etymonline.com. Retrieved 2023-09-14.
- ^ Dorit Diskin Ravid Spelling Morphology 2012- Page 10 "For example, in the Hebraist tradition, current v would be transcribed as either w or b following Hebrew graphemes – so that official place names on road signs in Israel can be quite misleading to non-Hebrew readers traveling around Israel."
- ^ "Why is Japan called Japan?". www.jluggage.com. Retrieved 2023-09-20.
- ^ "Viangchan definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary". www.collinsdictionary.com. Retrieved 2020-05-02.
- ^ "Wiang Chan". TheFreeDictionary.com. Retrieved 2020-05-02.
- ^ "Casablanca: Attractive places in the biggest city of morocco". Friendly Morocco. 2017-06-21. Retrieved 2023-09-14.
- ^ "morocco | Etymology, origin and meaning of morocco by etymonline". www.etymonline.com. Retrieved 2023-09-14.
- ^ York, Rob (2014-02-07). "Why is North Korea called the DPRK? | NK News". NK News - North Korea News. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
- ^ Robert D. Kaplan. Balkan Ghosts: A Journey Through History. 1993. (Picador, 2014.) p. 119. ISBN 9781466868304
- ^ Bewes, Diccon. Swiss Watching: Inside the Land of Milk and Honey. p.vii. 2012.
- ^ "Bangkok | Location, History, Population, Map, & Facts | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
- ^ "The word Quemoy has existed for about 400 years" (PDF). 2013-04-29. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-04-29. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
- ^ Exonyms and the International Standardisation of Geographical Names: Approaches towards the Resolution of an Apparent Contradiction Peter Jordan, Milan Orožen Adamič, Paul Woodman, Vienna 2007 Page 210 [lists Istanbul, as an English exonym of İstanbul. Istanbul appears to be the only English exonym listed for any Turkish city].
- ^ Lonely Planet Turkey ed. Verity Campbell 2007 Page 233 "There are also flights between İzmir and Europe on various European airlines (see p672). With the launch of İzmir Airlines, direct flights to Europe will greatly increase, and İzmir is billed to become one of Turkey's biggest hubs." and Page 291 "Original İznik tiles are antiquities and cannot be exported from Turkey, but new tiles make great, if not particularly cheap, souvenirs."
- ^ James Steele (1990). Turkey - A Traveller's Historical and Architectural Guide. Scorpion. pp. 161–162. ISBN 0-905906-72-1.
- ^ Carter, Phillip M. (2023-02-16). "Why does Turkey want other countries to start spelling its name 'Türkiye'?". The Conversation. Retrieved 2023-12-25.
- ^ "General Assembly Adopts Resolution Urging Russian Federation to Withdraw Its Armed Forces from Crimea, Expressing Grave Concern about Rising Military Presence | Meetings Coverage and Press Releases". www.un.org. Retrieved 2020-06-06.
- ^ Jean-Pierre Duteil Alexandre de Rhodes' Histoire du royaume du Tonkin 1999 Page 37 "Tourane se développe aux dépends de Faifo à la fin du XVIfle siècle, et l'éclipsé à peu près complètement au XTXe. "Faifo" doit son nom au "marché" (phô) de Hôi an (Hôi-an phô). "Tourane" correspondrait à la pronunciation chinoise de .."
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