Countries ending in istan

It shares a suffix with AfghanistanTajikistanand Turkmenistan. But, what does it mean? In most of these titles, countries ending in istan, the first part of the name refers to an ethnic group that lives in the nation: the Afghans or Afghanisthe Kyrgyzetc.

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. This isn't a Central Asian quirk. English and other Germanic languages frequently use "-land" in a similar manner.

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If you have ever mistaken Kazakhstan for Kyrgyzstan or tripped over the pronunciation of Turkmenistan, you 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. When thinking about how languages evolved, it's easiest to imagine a tree. One of these trees is called 'Indo-European', which branches out in eight directions, including Germanic, Italic, Helenic and Inod-Iranian. Like any good tree, these branches subdivide out into dozens of languages.

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.

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.

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After the collapse of the Soviet Union in the s, the country fell into the hands of President Niyazov who kept the country tightly under wraps. Dehestan is the name of an administrative division in Iran. Countries whose name in English has the suffix -stan. The suffix -stan is not just found in the names of established places. Would a name change help Kazakhstan? When thinking about how languages evolved, it's easiest to imagine a tree. The capital city of Ashgabat is well worth a visit for the curious traveler. Learn how your comment data is processed. Merriam-Webster entered it into their dictionary the same year as both a noun and verb. Provinces of Pakistan. And perhaps most damning for foreign investors, Kazakhstan tied for th place with Laos and Uganda on Transparency International's most recent Corruption Perception Index. Pakistan bucks the trend somewhat: Its name means "land of the pure. The Complete Lojban Language First ed. Email Address.

Central Asia, home to the "Stan" countries, offers a unique blend of cultural and natural wonders. The term "stan" is derived from the Persian suffix "-stan", which means "land of". These countries are all culturally and historically linked, sharing commonalities in language, religion and culture.

Sign In Subscribe. By alpinrage New inspirations, destinations, adventures. Be sure to check out the incredible Kaindy Lake in the Tien Shan mountains, where birch trees emerge from the crystalline waters. Share this: Twitter Facebook. Dravidistan was the name for a proposed Indian country that would encompass Tamil Nadu and other southern states. Wikipedia's multilingual support templates may also be used. Its bleak human rights record is only getting worse as the regime increasingly relies on harsh crackdowns to suppress dissent. Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev doesn't like the name Kazakhstan. Kohistan North Waziristan South Waziristan. 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 country has thousands of years of history, with its past as part of the main Silk Road trade route shaping its cities today. Its cities are an interesting mix of Soviet-era architecture, bustling Asian markets, and ancient customs.