- By Ridam Sharma
- Wed, 02 Apr 2025 02:48 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Countries With Their Native Names: English speakers have a name for every country. However, there are plenty of countries that are known by different names in their native languages. These names have historical, linguistic and religious significance in the development of the nation. In the world of jargon, such native names are called endonyms, which are often different from their English names; these English names are labeled as exonyms. Therefore, to keep you updated, here’s a list of more than 15 countries and their native names. Check out!
List Of 15+ Countries And Their Native Names Along With Thier Meanings:
India-Bharat
India’s native name is Bharat in the Hindi language. This native name is derived from the name of King Bharata from Indian mythology, which symbolises unity and heritage.
Countries And Their Native Names (Image Credit: Canva)
Egypt-Misr
Egypt is popularly known as Misr among Arabic people. The name has historical significance, and the word Misr translates as country or fortress.
Countries And Their Native Names (Image Credit: Canva)
Germany-Deutschland
The European country is natively regarded as Deutschland. The term simply refers to the Land of the Germans and is derived from Old High German diutisc.
Countries And Their Native Names (Image Credit: Canva)
Greece- Hellas (Ελλάς)
The Greek name for Greece is Hellas, which means the ancient Hellenic civilization and its people.
Countries And Their Native Names (Image Credit: Canva)
Finland - Suomi
Finland is popularly known as Suomi, which usually refers to the suomaa, which means swampland or wetlands.
Countries And Their Native Names (Image Credit: Canva)
Ethiopia - Ityop'ia (ኢትዮጵያ)
A country in East Africa, Ethiopia is known as Ityop'ia (ኢትዮጵያ) in the Amharic language, which means land of burnt faces.
Countries And Their Native Names (Image Credit: Canva)
Russia - Rossiâ (Россия)
Russians call their land Rossiâ (Россия), which is derived from Rus, a medieval state, which possibly means rowers or seafarers.
Countries And Their Native Names (Image Credit: Canva)
Japan - Nihon/Nippon (日本)
Japan is natively known as Nihon/Nippon (日本), which means the origin of the sun, that referring to Japan’s eastern location compared to China.
Countries And Their Native Names (Image Credit: Canva)
China - Zhongguo (中国)
China has seen significant growth as a nation in the past few decades. However, the country is still linked with its culture and is known as Zhongguo (中国) in the Mandarin language. The native name means Middle Kingdom, which highlights Chinese central position in world dynamics.
Countries And Their Native Names (Image Credit: Canva)
Norway -Norge
Norway's citizens called their land Norge, which means ‘northern way’ in the Norwegian language. The native name refers to Norway’s geographical location in Scandinavia.
Countries And Their Native Names (Image Credit: Canva)
Poland - Polska
Poland’s native name is derived from the word pole, which means field or plain.
Countries And Their Native Names (Image Credit: Canva)
Philippines - Pilipinas
The Philippines’s native name is Pilipinas, which is named after King Philip II of Spain. The word Pilipinas refers to its people.
Countries And Their Native Names (Image Credit: Canva)
Qatar - Qaṭar (قطر)
Qatar’s native name is possibly referred to as drip, which symbolises water sources.
Countries And Their Native Names (Image Credit: Canva)
Oman - ‘Umān (عُمان)
A country in the Middle East is named Oman; however, usually called ‘Umān’ natively because it is an Arabic word, which means āmin or amūn, meaning ‘settled people,’
Countries And Their Native Names (Image Credit: Canva)
Cambodia - Kampuchea
Cambodia is known as Kampuchea among citizens because the word refers to the Land Of The Kambojas, which is an ancient Indo-Iranian tribe mentioned in Sanskrit texts.
Countries And Their Native Names (Image Credit: Canva)