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Country names
Hello,
I have a question which has been bugging me. How come country names in Europe are different depending which country you are in? This is especially strange when the country has the same alphabet as another. Town/City names seem to be the same no matter the language, but for example in English you would say Spain... yet the Spanish people call theiry country Espana. Why are country names not universal? |
There's no Ñ in the English alphabet. Names adapt to the countries' language so that its speakers can pronounce and spell them according to the alphabet of each language.
For example: United (adj) States (noun) In English, the adjective is placed before the noun but it does not happen in every language. In Spanish, adjectives go after the noun, so saying Unidos Estados would be both grammatically and semantically wrong, so it changes to: Estados Unidos. Also, in Spanish words can only begin with an S if it's followed by a vowel. Spain --> España Special --> Especial And so on. |
Well, most countries are different in other languages.
I can post here what I know: (English - German - Japanese) America - Amerika - アメリカ Germany - Deutschland - ドイツ Japan - Japan - 日本 (にほん) Austria - Österreich - ？？ Switzerland - die Schweiz - ？？ Italy - Italien - イタリア Russia - Russland - ？？ Turkey - die Türkei - ？？ France - Frankreich - フランス Hungary - Ungarn - ？？ (Sorry, I got tired of listing countries, Germany vs Turkey is starting! LOS DEUTSCHLAND!!) |
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I mean, you are American and you watch European football? Like, the real thing? lol That's so cool <3 |
In Norwegian, Germany = Tyskland. I'm not sure but in Germany, Norway is Norwegen?? but in Norwegian, it's NORGE...
Sweden is American, but in Norwegian, Sweden = Sverige. Trust me...I find it equally weird >_> English -- Norwegian England -- England Germany -- Tyskland Netherlands-- Nederland Hungary -- Ungarn Sweden -- Sverige Denmark -- Danmark Finland -- Finnland Iceland -- Island Czec republic-- Tsjekkiske republikk America -- Amerika Japan -- Japan China -- Kina Poland -- Polen France -- Frankerike Greece -- Hellas Italy -- Italia Spain -- Spania Austria -- Østerrike just some of the countries we spell differently.... but we're not too far off the English I guess... :p but we pronounce letters abit differently than english people though...and Norwegians have the Æ Ø Å sounds as well :p |
Well, in that case I'll list the country name from italian point of view =3
England -- Inghilterra Germany -- Germania Netherlands-- Olanda Hungary -- Ungheria Sweden -- Svezia Denmark -- Danimarca Finland -- Finlandia Iceland -- Islanda Czec republic-- Repubblica Ceca United State -- Stati Uniti America -- America Japan -- Giappone China -- Cina Poland -- Polonia France -- Francia Greece -- Grecia Italy -- Italia Spain -- Spagna Austria -- Austria Switzerland -- Svizzera Turkey -- Turchia Russia -- Russia Plus, just like Suki said, the grammar (and the pronunciation) is different in each language, so the name of the countries had to be "fixed"... Following Suki's example, United States in italian is "Stati Uniti", because put United before States in italian is gramatically wrong, just like "European Union", that in italian becomes "Unione Europea". By the way, sorry if there are grammar error, but I don't know very well english... |
Some country names are VERY different in Greek! Read and see what I mean!
England -- Aglia Germany -- Germania Netherlands-- Olandia Hungary -- Ungaria Sweden -- Suidia Denmark -- Dania Finland -- Finlandia Iceland -- Islandia Czech republic-- Tsehia United States -- I.P.A. (Inomenes Polities tis Amerikis) America -- Americi Japan -- Iaponia China -- Kina Poland -- Polonia France -- Gallia Greece -- Ellada Italy -- Italia Spain -- Ispania Austria -- Afstria Switzerland -- Elvetia Turkey -- Turkia Russia -- Rossia Well, I can't think of a rule why they're named like this... (I just suck at philological lessons) Many letters are different too. The greek alphabet does not have many similarities with the English one. Some letters like "b" and "d" need 2 greek letters. (Sorry if you don't understand me... I'm not good at explaining...) Do you want me to post the Greek alphabet too explaining the letters? (I know, I'll be getting off topic but if anyone wants...) |
You just have a look at the Arabic names for countries.... (I will romanise the words, since you know in Arabic we have special characters.)
America ~ Amrika Germany ~ Ilmania France ~ Faranca Japan ~ Al Yaban China ~ Al Siin Lebanon ~ Lubnan Turkey ~ Turkiya Russia ~ Rusiya Spain ~ España (Pronounced the the same like Spanish people) . . . These are enough examples, if you look at the Arabic alphabets you will find that there are many alphabets which are not present in English and vice versa. So, having same country names both in English and Arabic will not be possible. |
Here's the list English - Dutch. ^^
England ~ Engeland Germany ~ Duitsland Netherlands ~ Nederland Hungary ~ Hongarije Sweden ~ Zweden Denmark ~ Denemarken Finland ~ Finland Iceland ~ Ijsland Czec republic ~ Tsjechische republiek United States of America ~ Verenigde Staten van Amerika Japan ~ Japan China ~ China Poland ~ Polen France ~ Frankrijk Greece ~ Griekenland Italy ~ Italië Spain ~ Spanje Austria ~ Oostenrijk Switzerland ~ Zwitserland Turkey ~ Turkije Russia ~ Rusland South Africa ~ Zuid Afrika Ukraine ~ Oekraïne Norway ~ Noorwegen New Zealand ~ Nieuw Zeeland |
I'm bored, so here's English - Finnish;;
England- Englanti Japan- Japani America- Amerikka Finland- Suomi Sweden- Ruotsi Germany- Saksa China- Kiina Greece- Kreikka Poland- Puola Iceland- Islanti Norway- Norja Russia- Venäjä Italy- Italia Spain- Espanja France- Ranska ...There's some. :3 |
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