-stan
Persian-language suffix used for place names

  Countries whose name in English has the suffix -stan
  Other countries that have first-level divisions whose names in English have the suffix -stan.
  Countries whose name in their native language has the suffix -stan.

-stan (Persian: ستان stân,[n 1] estân or istân[n 2]; Sanskrit: स्थान् sthān or स्थानम् sthānam) is a Persian and Sanskrit suffix that means "a place abounding in"[1] or "place where anything abounds".[2] It is widely used by Iranian languages (mainly Persian), Indic languages (mainly Sanskrit, Prakrit and Hindustani), Turkic languages (excluding Siberian Turkic), Dravidic languages (mainly Brahui and Kannada) and other languages. The suffix appears in the names of many regions throughout West, Central and South Asia and parts of the Caucasus and Russia.[3]

Etymology and cognates

Originally an independent noun, the stan morpheme evolved into a suffix because it frequently appeared as the last part in nominal compounds. It is cognate with the English word stead, Polish stan (estate, or New World first-level subdivisions), and Sanskrit sthā́na (स्थान [stʰaːnɐ]; "the act of standing"). The Sanskrit meaning ultimately derived from Proto-Indo-Iranian *sthāna-,[4] which was partly loaned into Ancient Greek as Ancient Greek: -στήνη (-stēnē).

The suffix -stan is analogous to the suffix -land, present in many country and location names. The suffix is also used more generally in Persian and Sanskrit, such as rigestân (ریگستان, ऋगेस्तान), "place of sand, desert"; golestân (گلستان, गोलेस्तान), "place of flowers, garden"; gurestân (گورستان, गुरेस्तान), "graveyard, cemetery";[5] and Hendostân/Hindustan (هندوستان, हिन्दुस्तान), "Land of the Indus (India)".[6]

Countries

Countries adopting the -stan suffix in both English and their national languages include:

Some of these nations were also known with the Latinate suffix -ia during their time as Soviet republics: Turkmenistan was frequently Turkmenia, Kyrgyzstan often Kirghizia, and Uzbekistan and Tajikistan very occasionally Uzbekia and Tajikia.[7][8] In addition, the native names of Armenia and India are respectively Hayastan, hay being the endonym of Armenians, and Hindustan. The largest -stan country by area is Kazakhstan.

Country names in various languages

English name Persian name Sanskrit name Turkish name Armenian name Azerbaijani name Kazakh name Turkmen name Tatar name Uyghur name Bashkir name Hindustani name Uzbek name
Armenia Armanestân – ارمنستان Armanisthān – अरमनिस्थान् Ermenistan Hayastan – Հայաստան (native term: Hayk' – Հայք) Ermənistan N/a Ermenistan Ärmänstan – Әрмәнстан N/a Ärmänstan – Әрмәнстан Armanistān – अर्मनिस्तान – ارمنستان Armaniston - Арманистон
Bulgaria Bulgharestân – بلغارستان Bölgāresthān – बोलगारेस्थान् Bulgaristan N/a Bolqarıstan N/a N/a Bolğarstan – Болгарстан N/a Bolğarstan – Болғарстан Bulġaristān – बुल्ग़रिस्तान – بلغارستان N/a
China N/a Sènāhsthān – सेनाहस्थान् N/a Čʿinastan – Չինաստան N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a
Croatia N/a – Hırvatistan N/a N/a N/a N/a -
(alternative Xırwatstan – Хырватстан)		 N/a Xırwatstan – Хыруатстан K͟Hirvatistān – ख़िरवतिस्तान – خروتستان N/a
England Engelestân – انگلستان – N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a Iṅglistān – इङ्ग्लिस्तान - ان٘گلستان N/a
Ethiopian Empire

( Ethiopia and Eritrea)

N/a – -
(formerly Habeşistan) 		-
(formerly Habešstan – Հաբեշստան) 		-
(formerly Həbəşistan) 		N/a N/a -
(formerly Xäbäşstan – Хәбәшстан) 		-
(formerly Hebeshistan –

ھەبەشىستان)

-
(formerly Xäbäşstan – Хәбәшстан) 		Habśistān – हब्शिस्तान – حبشستان -
(formerly Habashiston - Ҳабашистон)
Georgia Gorjestân – گرجستان – Gürcistan Vrastan – Վրաստան (native term: Virk' – Վիրք) Gürcüstan N/a N/a Görcistan – Гөрҗистан N/a Görjöstan – Гөржөстан Gurjistān – गुर्जिस्तान – گرجستان Gurjiston - Гуржистон
Greece N/a Yāvansthān – यावनस्थान् Yunanistan Hunastan – Հունաստան Yunânıstan N/a N/a Yunanstan – Юнанстан N/a Yunanstan – Юнанстан N/a Yunoniston - Юнонистон
Hungary Majârestân – مجارستان Māhyūrsthān – मह्युरस्थान् Macaristan N/a Macârıstan Majarstan – Мажарстан Majarystan Macarstan – Маҗарстан N/a Мажарстан Majāristān – मजारिस्तान – مجارستان Mojariston - Можаристон
India Hendostân – هندوستان – Hindistan Hndkastan – Հնդկաստան Hindistan Ündıstan – Үндістан Hindistan Hindstan – Һиндстан Hindustan – ھىندىستان Hindostan – Һиндостан Hindustān – हिन्दुस्तान – ہِنْدُوْسْتان Hindiston - Ҳиндистон
Mongolia Mogholestân – مغولستان Mangōlasthān – मंगोलास्थान् Moğolistan N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a Mağulstan – Мағулстан Maṅgōlistān – मङ्गोलिस्तान – من٘گولستان Moʻgʻuliston - Мўғулистон
Poland Lahestân – لهستان Léchîsthān – लेचिस्थान् -
(formerly Lehistan)		 Lehastan – Լեհաստան N/a N/a N/a Läxstan – Ләхстан Lehistan – لەھىستان Lähstan – Ләhстан Lahistān – लहिस्तान – لہستان N/a
Russia N/a – N/a Ṙusastan – Ռուսաստան N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a N/a
Saudi Arabia 'Arabestân-e Sa'udi – عربستان سعودی – Suudi Arabistan N/a Səudiyyə Ərəbistanı N/a Saud Arabystany Sögüd Gäräbstanı – Согуд Гарәбстаны Se'udi Erebistan – سەئۇدى ئەرەبىستان Säğüd Ğäräbstanï – Сәғүд Ғәрәбстаны N/a Saudiya Arabistoni - Саудия Арабистони
Serbia Serbestân – صربستان Srbèndasthān – सृबिन्दस्थान् Sırbistan N/a N/a N/a N/a -
(alternative Sırbstan – Сырбстан)		 N/a Sırbstan – Сырбстан Sarbistān – सर्बिस्तान – صربستان N/a

Administrative divisions

The following table lists the subnational entities of different countries that end with -stan.

Country & first level of division Country subdivision name
Provinces of Afghanistan Nuristan
Districts of Azerbaijan Gobustan
States of India Rajasthan[n 3]
Provinces of Iran Golestan, Khuzestan, Kurdistan, Lorestan, Sistan and Baluchestan
Regions of Kazakhstan Turkistan
Provinces of Pakistan Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan
Republics of Russia Bashkortostan, Dagestan, Tatarstan
Regions of Uzbekistan Karakalpakstan

Administrative subdivisions

The following list shows some examples of second-level, third-level and fourth-level subdivisions with a -stan-like suffix in various countries.

In Afghanistan

  1. ^ Various places share this name.

In Armenia

In India

In Iran

  1. ^ Various places share this name.
  2. ^ In the Persian language, Shahrestan is also a common noun that means "county". It is in the names of the counties of Iran.

Dehestan is the name of an administrative division in Iran.

In Pakistan

In Tajikistan

In other countries

Regions

Historical regions

  • Frangistan – A historical term used by Muslims and Persians to refer to Western or Christian Europe.
  • Funjistan (Funj) - A historical empire located in what is now Sudan.
  • Kabulistan – A historical name of the territory centered around present-day Kabul Province of Afghanistan.
  • Lazistan – A historical and cultural region of the Caucasus and Anatolia, traditionally inhabited by the Laz people.
  • Moghulistan (Mughalistan) – A historical area in Central Asia that included parts of modern-day Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Xinjiang
  • Tabaristan – A historical mountainous region located on the Caspian coast of Northern Iran.
  • Zabulistan – A historical region roughly corresponding to the modern-day Zabul Province in southern Afghanistan.

Proposed names

Fictional

Other

See also

Notes

  1. ^ Applies after a vowel, e.g. Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan.
  2. ^ Applies after a consonant, e.g Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan.
  3. ^ The suffix -sthan is through Indic, not Iranic.

References

  1. ^ Hayyim, Sulayman (1892), "ستان", New Persian-English Dictionary, vol. 2, Tehran: Librairie imprimerie Béroukhim, p. 30, archived from the original on 28 October 2020, retrieved 25 October 2020 Quote= ستان (p. V2-0030) ستان (۲) Suffix meaning 'a place abounding in'. Ex. گلستان a flower or rose-garden. Syn. زار See گازار Note. This suffix is pronounced stan or setan after a vowel, as in بوستان boostan, a garden, and هندوستان hendoostan, India; and estan after a consonant. Ex. گلستان golestan, and ترکستان torkestan. However, for poetic license, after a consonant also, it may be pronounced setan. Ex. گلستان golsetan
  2. ^ Steingass, Francis Joseph, "ستان", A Comprehensive Persian-English Dictionary, p. 655, archived from the original on 28 October 2020, retrieved 25 October 2020, stān (after a vowel), istān (after a consonant), Place where anything abounds, as ḵẖurmāstān, A palm-grove, gulistān, A flower-garden, &c.
  3. ^ Ford, Matt (7 February 2014). "Kazakhstan's President Is Tired of His Country's Name Ending in 'Stan'". The Atlantic. Archived from the original on 25 October 2022. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
  4. ^ Macdonell, A. A. (1929). A practical Sanskrit dictionary with transliteration, accentuation, and etymological analysis throughout. London: Oxford University Press. p. 365. Archived from the original on 16 October 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2022.
  5. ^ Moshiri, Leila (1988). "English-Persian Glossary". Colloquial Persian. Routledge. p. 150. ISBN 0-415-00886-7.
  6. ^ Kapur, Anu (2019). Mapping Place Names of India. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-0-429-61421-7.
  7. ^ "Uzbekia, Kirgizia, Turkmenia, Tajikia". Google Ngram. Archived from the original on 10 April 2023.
  8. ^ Becker, Seymour (2004). Russia's Protectorates in Central Asia: Bukhara and Khiva, 1865–1924. Routledge. p. 553. ISBN 1-134-33582-2. As early as June 1920, Lenin had toyed with the idea of dividing Russian Turkestan into three national regions: Uzbekia, Kirgizia and Turkmenia.
  9. ^ "Baloch writer claims independence from Pak, urges UN for recognition". India Today. 9 May 2025. Retrieved 9 July 2025.
  10. ^ "Turmoil in the North East: The demand for Bangalistan". SabrangIndia. 28 January 2020. Archived from the original on 28 January 2020. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  11. ^ "Khalistan: Why are some Sikhs calling for a separate homeland in India?". 19 September 2023. Retrieved 9 July 2025.
  12. ^ "Lebanese solution " 15 Jul 1978 " The Spectator Archive". The Spectator Archive. Archived from the original on 20 August 2018. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
  13. ^ "Lojbnaistan". lojban wiki. 4 November 2013. Archived from the original on 31 March 2017. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
  14. ^ Cowan, John Waldemar (1997). "1". The Complete Lojban Language (First ed.). Fairfax, VA, US: The Logical Language Group. p. 3. ISBN 0-9660283-0-9. Archived from the original on 2 April 2017. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
  15. ^ Stuart, Keith (31 May 2019). "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare returns to tread a moral minefield". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 25 September 2019. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  16. ^ Allan, Chantal (2009). Bomb Canada: And Other Unkind Remarks in the American Media. Athabasca University Press. pp. 84–85. ISBN 978-1-897425-49-7. soviet%20canuckistan%20arab%20canadians.
  17. ^ Carla Fernandes (2016). Multimodality and Performance. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. p. 27. ISBN 978-1-4438-9465-4. Archived from the original on 10 April 2023. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
  18. ^ "Cavaquistão continua irredutível e a votar laranja ("Cavaquistan remains unyielding and voting orange")". Visão (in Portuguese). 6 October 2019. Archived from the original on 3 October 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  19. ^ Dibyesh Anand (15 October 2011). Hindu Nationalism in India and the Politics of Fear. Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 34–. ISBN 978-0-230-36263-5.
  20. ^ "Govt blocks 18 sites to check hate messages". The Times of India. 19 July 2006. Archived from the original on 27 May 2013. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
  21. ^ "The Ruler of Orbánistan". Aspen Institute Central Europe (in Czech). Archived from the original on 13 August 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  22. ^ Pizza, Murphy (2009). "Schism as midwife: how conflict aided the birth of a contemporary Pagan community". In Lewis, James R.; Lewis, Sarah M. (eds.). Sacred schisms: how religions divide (PDF). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 249–261. ISBN 978-0-511-58071-0. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 August 2011. Retrieved 25 May 2011. [...] the Pagan community of the Minnesota Twin Cities, otherwise known by members as 'Paganistan.'

Sources

Further reading

  • Maciuszak, Kinga. The Persian Suffix -(e)stān 'The Land Of' Studia Etymologica Cracoviensia 13 (2008): 119–140.
  • Harper, Douglas. "-stan". Online Etymology Dictionary.
  • The dictionary definition of -stan at Wiktionary
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