Wednesday, November 18, 2009

What are the meanings and origins of these countries names?

Bolivia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Uruguay

What are the meanings and origins of these countries names?
Some of these names have simple, well-known origins. Others are derived from native words, and their beginnings were not carefully recorded, so their origins are not well understood at present.





Bolivia: in honor of Simon Bolivar, the independence fighter.





Costa Rica: Spanish for "rich coast" - early explorers thought it had gold.





Ecuador: Spanish for "equator", which passes through the country.





Guyana: formerly British Guiana, from native word "guiana", meaning "land of waters", or possibly from native word for "respectable".





Haiti: from Carib, either haiti: mountainous land, or jhaiti: nest.





Honduras: Spanish for "depths".





Jamaica: (Speculative) From Arawak xamac: hammock, or xaymaca: rich in springs, or land of springs.





Paraguay: There are at least two theories. 1: Guaran铆 para: river + guaso: big. 2: Paragua (chief's name) + y: river.





Puerto Rico: Spanish for "rich port".





Uruguay: possibly from irugua: chief channel + y: river, or Guarani uru: bird, huguay: tail (one source interprets the name as "river of the beautifully colored birds").
Reply:Good Question indeed.


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