Why are there so many countries that end in -stan? In total 7 countries: Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan include the suffix -stan in their names.
These countries have a combined population of nearly 280 million people (fewer than only China, India and the United States) and cover an area of 5.45 million square kilometers (7th largest in the world).
The first clue is their location, all 7 countries can be found in central Asia. ‘Stan’ comes from the Persian word for “place of” or “country” which derives from the word sta or ‘to stand’. All 7 -stans are contiguous with modern Iran, which is the modern successor state to Persia. See map below:
Moreover, the 7 -stans aren’t the only places with the suffix -stan, 5 Irianian provinces and whole host of other aspiring countries (e.g. Kurdistan) and regions also use the suffix.
So what does any of this have to do with the United States? Why is it a -stan country like Kyrgyzstan? Well for an answer to that, you’ll have to watch this fascinating video below:
Bonus Map If the Stans United:
Want to learn more? Then read:
- Palgrave Concise Historical Atlas of Central Asia
- Inside Central Asia: A Political and Cultural History of Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkey, and Iran
- The Great Game: The Struggle for Empire in Central Asia (Kodansha Globe)
Did you like the video? Want to see more? Let us know below:
Andrew Gallagher says
Don’t forget Hayastan. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hayastan_(disambiguation)
Peter Chan says
Whoops . . .Video “Roots and Routes” expired
John von Shepard says
They call stan because those country are backward.
Gomnam says
Like your comment. In all seriousness, your comment is totally irrelevant and unnecessarily mean and speaks volumes about your unpleasant personality.
stan says
I’m afraid it would be named “Perpetualcivilwaristan”.
Oleggor Malcolm Williams says
It’s an intresting part of learning. I love to learn much about my world.
Victor Victor says
Additionally, Turkey’s many neighbors and old Ottoman dominion countries in Turkish also end in -stan; one major influence on the Turkish language has been Persian (Farsi) since pre-Ottoman times:
Ermenistan -> Armenia
Gürcüstan -> Georgia
Yunanistan -> Greece
Bulgaristan -> Bulgaria
Sırbistan -> Serbia
Macaristan -> Hungary
Suudi Arabistan -> Saudi Arabia
Hırvatistan -> Croatia
Hindistan -> India (obviously not an old Ottoman dominion ,althoughthe Moghuls recognized the Ottoman Khaliff)
Habeşistan (Etiyopya) -> Ethiopia (an older name though)
Many, many geographical and semi-autonomous regions as well, which I skip.
(Western Europe in general used to be called Frankistan, for example, as Frank meant Western European.)