Whence the English names of countries
2020-Jan-24Some exonyms:
- India (Hindustan). Same origin: Sanskrit síndhu (“river”), as in Indus River.
- Japan (Nihon). Same origin, the English comes via Chinese and Malay.
- China (Zhongguo). Via Sanskrit possibly from Qin, the westernmost ancient Chinese state.
- Korea (Hanguk). From Goryeo, a Korean kingdom from 918-1392.
- Germany (Deutschland). From Latin name Germānī used for tribes east of the Rhine.
- Finland (Suomi). From Old Norse word for Finland, Finnland.
- Greece (Hellas). Via Latin from Graecus, a son of either Zeus or someone named Thessalus.
- Hungary (Magyarország). Via Latin from Turkish name Onoğurs (“ten tribes”) used for Turkic tribes to the north of Turkey (not where Hungary is).