Countries ending in istan

If you have ever mistaken Kazakhstan for Kyrgyzstan or tripped over the pronunciation of Turkmenistan, countries ending in istan aren't alone. With names that sound like a playground tongue twister, it's no surprise that the cluster of countries in Central and South Asia is often referred to as the "Seven Stans" or 'Stan Countries'. But where does this shared suffix come from and why can you find it around all around the world? So, Kazakhstan means 'land of the Kazakhs, Tajikistan is 'land of the Tajiks', and so on, countries ending in istan.

Carmela is a journalist from London. Last Updated on May 29, From luscious green mountains, through to snow-capped peaks and turquoise lakes, this region is blessed with the stunning natural scenery. Its cities are an interesting mix of Soviet-era architecture, bustling Asian markets, and ancient customs. Kazakhstan is arguably the jewel of Central Asia.

Countries ending in istan

Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev doesn't like the name Kazakhstan. At the same time, foreigners take an interest in Mongolia, the population of which makes up only two million, but its name does not end in '-stan,'" he told onlookers while visiting a school in Atyrau, according to his official website. This isn't Nazarbayev's first foray into nomenclature. The president, a septuagenarian autocrat who has led Kazakhstan since the Soviet Union's dissolution in , has built up quite a cult of personality after years of one-party rule. In , he moved the nation's capital from Almaty, the country's largest city, to Akmola, a small town deep in the Kazakh steppe, and renamed it Astana—literally "capital" in Kazakh. The generic name is suspected to be a placeholder for Nursultan, his own name, but Nazarbayev has graciously delayed naming the city after him until he dies. Renaming an entire country is an even bolder move by Nazarbayev, but it isn't uncommon worldwide. Rhodesia was originally named for the British man who colonized it, but became Zimbabwe when white-minority rule ended in the s. The military junta in Burma renamed the country Myanmar in after seizing power, although many opposition groups, foreign governments, and media outlets do not recognize the name change. And Nazarbayev does have a point about his country's name. The suffix comes from the Persian root istan , or "land"—hence the "land of the Uzbeks," "land of the Kazakhs," and so forth. Pakistan bucks the trend somewhat: Its name means "land of the pure.

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It shares a suffix with Afghanistan , Tajikistan , and Turkmenistan. But, what does it mean? In most of these titles, the first part of the name refers to an ethnic group that lives in the nation: the Afghans or Afghanis , the Kyrgyz , etc. There are countless regions within other countries whose names or toponyms end in —stan , such as Tatarstan , a republic in central Russia. Incidentally, the name Stanley, or Stan for short, has nothing to do with — stan. The suffix -stan is not just found in the names of established places.

It shares a suffix with Afghanistan , Tajikistan , and Turkmenistan. But, what does it mean? In most of these titles, the first part of the name refers to an ethnic group that lives in the nation: the Afghans or Afghanis , the Kyrgyz , etc. There are countless regions within other countries whose names or toponyms end in —stan , such as Tatarstan , a republic in central Russia. Incidentally, the name Stanley, or Stan for short, has nothing to do with — stan. The suffix -stan is not just found in the names of established places. It has a rich history of being part of proposed names, fictional names, and forgotten names.

Countries ending in istan

I believe it is a regional thing, not an Islamic one, since the home of Islam is in countries like Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Syria, Egypt, etc. Like in the other thread mentioned, Indians Hindus also refer to India as Hindustan where stan is literally, location. Meaning a place to stay, an abode. Literally, the place where things stay. From Bosnia through Turkey, the Caucasus, Central Asia, and Afghanistan, to Pakistan and India, the Persian language for centuries was the language of high culture and belles lettres. The Ottoman Turkish, Chaghatai forerunner of Uzbek , and Urdu languages were all replete with tons and tons of Persian loanwords. The literary and poetic forms in all these countries imitated the Persian models.

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Archived from the original on 28 January Follow Indo-Iranian to Iranian and you'll find Persian. Additionally, head to the famous Registan Complex to see some of Uzbekistan architecture at its finest. Archived from the original on 13 August So what are you waiting for? Word of the day. Mapping Place Names of India. The Times of India. Flubbings of Central Asian nations' names are common, even among those who should probably know better. Archived from the original on 16 October The following table lists the subnational entities of different countries that end with -stan.

The suffix appears in the names of many regions throughout West , Central and South Asia , and parts of the Caucasus and Russia. The derived suffix -standar or ostandar was used for administrative titles of -stan governors in Iran when the country was led by the Sasanian dynasty. The suffix -stan is analogous to the suffix -land , present in many country and location names.

In Lewis, James R. As early as June , Lenin had toyed with the idea of dividing Russian Turkestan into three national regions: Uzbekia, Kirgizia and Turkmenia. The country has thousands of years of history, with its past as part of the main Silk Road trade route shaping its cities today. The Darvaza gas craters, located in the heart of the Karakum Desert, are fiery holes that lead to…well.. Mapping Place Names of India. Retrieved 16 April Archived from the original on 3 October The Guardian. Retrieved 15 December Colloquial Persian. Archived from the original on 28 January Search New Zealand Herald. The suffix appears in the names of many regions throughout West , Central and South Asia , and parts of the Caucasus and Russia. Rhodesia was originally named for the British man who colonized it, but became Zimbabwe when white-minority rule ended in the s. The military junta in Burma renamed the country Myanmar in after seizing power, although many opposition groups, foreign governments, and media outlets do not recognize the name change.