Names of countries of the world
We almost never think, and why, in fact, this or that state is so called. And vain. After all, the history of the emergence of a name is ridiculous, instructive or just entertaining. The most interesting examples are in the review "My Planet".
Argentina – from Latin Argentum ("Silver"). The first Spanish conquistadors opened the Rio de la Plata river, which, according to some information, was full of silver. For the first time, the name was used in the poem of 1602 "Argentina and the conquest of Rio de la Plata" Martin Del Barco Center.
In honor of another metal – copper (lat. Cuprum) Named Cyprus, On the lands of which there are many copper mines. However, in addition to this version, there are theories by which Cyprus is named either in honor of the tree of cypress, or Lausonian plants.
Barbados Received its name Thanks to the Spanish researcher Pedro Campos, who was impressed by the appearance of fig trees located on the island, calling them Los Barbados, which is in translation from Spanish means "bearded".
One of the versions Belize He got his name from the distorted Spanish pronunciation of Peter Wallis – Pirate, who founded the first settlement on these lands in 1638.
Brazil Named in honor of the tree of the same name, which, in turn, received its name due to the red wood, resembling hot corners (Brasil in Portuguese).
In 1984, Thomas Sankara, the then leader of the African state Upper Volta, To raise the National Spirit, renamed his country in Burkina Faso, which is literally translated as "Earth of honest people".
Mecca of all Catholics – Vatican (LAT. Vaticinari – "prophesy") named in honor of the street, chosen by the fortunellers and predictors in the ancient Roman times. Subsequently, the hill, at the foot of which took this street, was named Mons Vaticanus.
Amerigo Vespucci, in honor of which one of the parts of the world was named, came up with the name Venezuela. Seeing the houses of the locals built on the water, the Florentine traveler immediately remembered the Italian Venice and the VENEZUOLA, which could be translated from Italian as "small Venice"
With the name of the most famous navigator – Many toponyms are associated with Christopher Columbus. Dominican Republic – from Lat. Dies Dominica, "Day of God" ("Sunday"). It was on this day that the Columbus found himself on the island. Five settlements in the United States in different states are the name Columbus (Columbus). In the West Canada British Columbia Province is located. By the way, the origin of the name of Canada is the second largest state in the world, due to the word KANATA, which in the language of the Lavrent sickezov means "Village" or "Settlement".
East African state Djibouti Named in honor of GABOUTI, translated from the language of Afar – "The welded rug made of palm fiber".
Israel owes his name to the Book of Being, in which the Patriarch of Jacob after the struggle against the angel of God receives the name of Israel, which means "fantastic with God".
One of the versions, Spain Translated from Phoenician as the "Coast of Rabbits" – due to the huge number of rabbits who lived on these lands in the ancient Roman times.
Kazakhstan Literally transfer – "Country of free people", originally called tribes, leading nomadic, stray lifestyle. After combining the tribes and the formation of statehood, the word "Kazakh" began to have no social, but political importance.
Liberia – from Lat. Liber, "Free". The country in the west of Africa was founded by the United States in 1822 to settle its liberated American slaves of African origin.
Luxembourg Translated from German means "Small Castle". Before becoming a state, uniting several abbey and lands under its authority, Luxembourg was just a fort, in whose territory Count Siegfried laid the castle in 963.
Word Namibia Comes from the desert Namib, which, in turn, in the language of Nama means "the place where there is nothing".
Nigeria Named in honor of the African River Gear, in the local language – Ni Gir.
Name Pakistan It was invented in 1933 by the Activist of Miracheri Rakhmet Ali. It is literally translated as "Earth Pure", while the word is an acronym: "P" – from Punjab, "A" – from Afghans-Pashtunov, "K" – from Kashmir, "C" – from Sinda, and Tang – from Belukhistan.
Name history Palestine He has deep roots in many languages and cultures: from ancient Egypt and ancient Rome before biblical times. On Hebrew the word "Plishim" means "invading", "strangers", "invaders". So the ancient Jews called the people, in the biblical times moved from the Greek Islands to the southeastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea.
Papua New Guinea Received the first part of his name because of the appearance of aboriginal living in it. In 1526, the Portuguese Meneshesh noted the shape of the hair of the locals, calling them to Papuva, which in the translation of the Malaysky means "Curly", and in 1545 the island visited Irso Ortis de Retes and gave him the name "New Guinea", because, in his opinion Local residents were similar to Guinea Aboriginal in Africa.
Romania – from the word Român, Romanus ("Roman"). In the documents, Valahius wrote like Romanian Land, ţeara Rumânească, since these lands were under the rule of the Roman Empire. Toponym turned out to be more harvest than the empire.
Salvador From Spanish translates as "Savior". The country is named Spanish Conquistor Pedro de Alvarado in honor of Jesus Christ.
Toponym Finland, Perhaps comes from the German Fennland, "Wanderers". Suomie, used by indigenous people, can be deciphered as SUO – "swamp" and MAA – "Earth".
In addition to Finland, "Swamp" roots can be obtained in Switzerland (Schweitz in German – "swamp").
France Latin translated as "Land of Franks". The word "Frank" was widely used in speech after the fall of Rome in the Middle Ages, and after the Coronation of the Hugo Cuppe, it became the usual in the kingdom of Francia (Francia), which later became France.
