PLACE NAMES OF
THE WORLD *
INTRODUCTION
This page will be under
construction for some time. The subject is endless so Edo Nyland will keep on
adding more names as they become available.
To those who have read my earlier
articles, it should come as no surprise that many of the world's place names
have hidden sentences in them, written in what today would be called the
Basque language. Considering where these geographical names are and the age
of the places they represent, it is obvious that the language cannot be
Basque, but must be an earlier form of it. I have called this proto language:
the Saharan language or better the Universal Language because it applies to
many related languages on every continent and because its existence can be
traced back at least 7,000 years (see Ainu). The Basque language must be very
close to the original Saharan language and therefore the Basque dictionary by
Gorka Aulestia was used. The overwhelming majority of the names were made up
with the vowel-interlocking formula, but here and there the name inventors
cheated or slipped and ignored the inter-locking.
AFRICA
Africa, af.-.ri-ika,
afa-ari-ika: afa (happy) arinari eman (to escape) ikaragarritasun (tragedy):
"We are happy to have escaped the tragedy".
Chad, txa-ad., txa-adi: txankaldu (to divide the
land into fields) adiskedigisa (in a friendly
manner): "They divided the land into fields in a friendly manner".
Egypt, egi-ip.-.t.,
egi-ipu-uto: egin (to create) ipuin (legend) utopia (utopia):
"They created the legend of utopia".
Kenya, .ke-eni-iha,
ike-eni-iha: ikertu (to pay a
visit) eni (to me) ihardun (to spend
time): "Pay a visit to me and spend some time".
Sahara, .sa-aha-ara,
iza-aha-ara, izadi (nature,
character) ahalguzti (Almighty) aratz (pure):
"The Omnipotent's character is pure". The previous translation has been: zahar (old): "The Old Country?” This is not likely.
Senegal,
.se-ene-ega-al., ase-ene-ega-ala: asezin (insatiable
craving) enegan (within me) egape (shelter,
home) alai aldi (happiness):
"Within me there is an insatiable craving for a home and
happiness".
Uganda, uga-anda, ugaldu (to grow a
crop) andanaka (in large
quantities):"They grow crops in large quantities".
AMERICA, NORTH
America, ameri-ika, ameriketak egin (to make a
fortune) ikaragarri (enormous):
"Make an enormous fortune".
CANADA
Canada, .ka-ana-ada, akabu (the far end) anaitu (to get
together) ada (the noise of
the last word): "At the far end we'll have a party".
Hudson,
.hu-ud.-.so-on., uhu-udi-iso-ona, uhui (cry of
happiness) udikan (to get out) isolamendu (isolation)
(isolation) onargaitz (intolerable,
hostile): "He cried for joy to get out of the hostile isolation".
Mission, .mi-isi-on.,
umi-isi-one, umiltasun (humbleness) isilka (quietly) onegite (doing good):
"Quietly doing good in humbleness".
Quebec, ke-ebe-ek.,
ke-ebe-eku: kementze (act of
encouraging) ebertar (the Hebrew,
Christ) ekurutasun (peace of
mind): "Christ encourages peace of mind".
MEXICO
Mexico from Mexica, .me-exi-ika
AMERICA, SOUTH
Brasil/Brazil,
.b.-.ra-azi-il., eba-ara-azi-il: ebasle (thief) arrapatu (to plunder) azienda (wealth) ilki (to leave):
"The thieves plundered our wealth and then left".
Peru, .pe-eru, ape-eru: apez (priest) errukigabe (cruel):
"The priests are cruel".
ASIA
Asia, asi-ia, asiera (origin) iaiotasun (profound
knowledge), "Origin of all profound knowledge".
NEAR EAST (Except
Israel).
Bagdad, .bag.-dad., abaga-dad: abagadune (opportunity, possible success) dadin (so that he
may be): "That he may be successful".
Basra, bas.-.ra, basa (mud) ara (over there):
"There's mud over there".
ISRAEL
Bethlehem, .be-et. h.-.le-em., abe-ete he-ele-eme: abeletxe (stable) etenune (time of
birth) hementxe (right here) ele (cattle) emekiro (peaceful):
"The time of birth came right here in the stable between the peaceful
cattle."
Galilee, .ga-ali-ile, iga-ali-ile, igarle (prophet) alienatu (to kill a
person) ileta (lament,
mourning): "Lament for the killed prophet".
Jerusalem, je-eru-usa-ale-em., jentil (pagan) errukigabe (cruel) usadio (custom) alegia (fake) emankortasun (fertility):"Cruel
pagan custom for fake fertility."
MIDDLE EAST.
(India, Pakistan etc)
Bihar, .bi-iha-ar., ibi-iha-ara, ibildari (nomadic) iha'urri (to scatter, to
roam) arro (proud):
"Proud roaming nomads".
Goa, from goardia (to stand
guard): Referring to the town's defenses.
Harappa, from harapatu (to plunder):
"Plundered".
Himalaya, ima-alaya, imajina (image,
scenery) alaia (pleasing):
"Pleasing scenery".
FAR EAST
Fujiyama, fa.-uji-ama, fa (happy) uju (cry of joy) ama (Goddess):
"A happy cry of joy for the Goddess".
AUSTRALIA
Australia,
aus.-.tra-ali-iha, ausa-atra-ali-iha: ausarta (courageous) atrakatzaile (robber,
convict) alizan (capable) ihaurri (to scatter,
to go everywhere): "Courageous and capable convicts went
everywhere".
Papua, apapua (living in poverty): "They live in poverty".
EUROPE
Europa, eur.-opa, euri (rain) opa (longing for):
"Longing for rain".
Atlantic, from
Atlantis, at.-.la-an. .ti-iz., atontze (Get ready!) olatualdi (huge wave) aniztu (to increase) utikan (get away
from) izugarrikeria (terrible
happening): "Get ready! Huge waves are increasing, get away from this
terrible happening!"
BALTIC
Baltic, bal-tik, bale (whale) tiko (origin, birthplace),
"Calving area of the whales", probably baluga whales. The area
referred to is likely the Bay of Riga.
Lithuania, better known as Litauen, eli-ita-ahu-ene, elikadura (food) itaitu (to harvest) ahurka (by the
handful, in large numbers) -enetan (always):
"They always harvest their food in large numbers."
BRITAIN
Canterbury, (kanterburi), .ka-an.-.te-er.-bu-uri,
ika-ana-ate-era-abu-uri, ikasi (learned) anaia (brothers) ateratu (to take
advantage of) erabide (education) aburu eman (to express
and idea, opinion) urrikimendu (repentance):
Take advantage of an education from the learned brothers and express
repentance".
Hoy, hoi, hoindi (over there,
the other side): "On the other side".
Lindisfarne, .li-in.-.di-is.-.fa-arne, ili-inu-udi-isi-ifa-arne, ilintu (to set on
fire) inular (sundown) udikan (get away!) isilume (bastard) ifar (northern) arnegatu (cursed):
"Get away from here! At sundown the cursed bastards from the north set
fire to the monastery".
Trafalgar, .t.-.ra-afa-alga-ar., ate-era-afa-alga-ari, ateru (to stop) erasan (attack) afa (happy) algara (loud
laughter) arinaldi (fast run):
"We stoped the attack (amid) happy and loud laughter when they ran away
fast".
GERMANY, AUSTRIA, SWITZERLAND
Berlin, .be-erli-in., abe-erli-inu, abergikor (hospitable) erlijiozale (pious) inurritze (inspiring):
"A hospitable, pious and inspiring town".
Fritzlar, .f.-.ri-itz.-.la-ar., afa-ari-itza-ala-are, afa (happy) ari (mission) itza eman (to give a
promise) alaitzaile (joyous) arrera (welcome):
Happy mission which promises a joyous welcome".
Lorsch, .lo-ortz, alondegi (wine
storage/cellar) ortzeko (heavenly):
"Heavenly winecellar".
Lubeck, lu-ube-ek., luzarotu (to last a
long time) uberka (water
reservoir) ekaizte (big
rainstorm): "The water reservoir will last for a long time (when filled
by) a big rainstorm".
Murbach, .mu-ur.-.ba-ak., amu-uri-iba-akitu, amultsu (tender) urrikitu (to show
compassion) ibarretxe (house in the
valley) akitu (to be
exhausted): "At the house in the valley the exhausted find tender
compassion".
Reichenau, .re-ike-ena-au, are-ike-ena-au, erreraegin (to welcome) ikertzaile (visitor) -ena (possessive
suffix) aupatu (to give
praise): "We welcome our visitors and give praise".
Stettin, .s.-.te-et.-.ti-in., asa-ate-eta-ati-inu, asaldatze (rioting) aterpe (refuge) eta (and) atxikitzaile (supporter) inurritu (to inspire):
"A refuge from the rioting and inspiration for our supporters".
Tirol, tiro-ol, tirokaldi (shooting) oldartu (to begin, to start):
"Start shooting".
Wurtzburg, urtz-bu-urg., urtzeko (heavenly) buruargi (ingenious) urgatza (protection):
"Ingenious heavenly protection".
THE LOW COUNTRIES
Amerongen, ame-ero-onge-en., ameskor (dreaming) erosle (Redeemer) onginahi (kindness) enegana (to me):
"I am dreaming about the Redeemer's kindness to me".
Arnhem, ar.-.n.-.he-em., aro-oni-ihe-ema, arrotz (foreigner) onik (unharmed) ihesaldi (escape) emarrapaketa (abduction of
a woman): "The foreign woman escaped unharmed from her abductors".
Barnegat, .ba-arnegat, ebanjelari (evangelist) arnegatu (to get
angry): "The evangelist got angry".
Delft, .de-el.-.f.-.t., ede-ela-afa-ati, eder (beautiful) ela (story) afa (happy) atxikitzaile (faithfulness):
"Beautiful story of happy faithfulness" or "beautiful and
happy story of faithfulness".
den Helder, .de-en./.he-el.-.de-er., ede-ene/ihe-ela-ade-era, ederren (the most
beautiful) ene (to attract,
to come to) ihesleku (shelter,
harbour) elaberritsu (fond of the
news) adeitsu (courteous) errezbimendu (welcome):
"Come to the most beautiful harbour for the latest news and a courteous
welcome".
Drachten, .d.-.ra-ak.-.te-en., ada-ara-aka-ate-en: adarka (by goring) arakintzo (massacre) akabatu (to end a
life) atezatu (to live on) entzute (fame):
"The stabbing massacre ended his life but his fame lives on".
Echternach, ek.-.te-er.-.na-ak., eka-ate-era-ana-ako, ekarri (to provide) aterpe (refuge) eramankizun (suffering) anaidi (brotherhood) akordiozko (traditional):
"Traditional brotherhood which provides a refuge from suffering".
Egmond, eg.-.mo-ond., egin (to create) moldez (skillfully) ondorekidego (common
inheritance): "(We skillfully create a common inheritance".
Fulda, fu-ul.-.da, fu-ule-eda, funtsatu (to create) ulerketa
(understanding) edagale (thirst):
"We create a thirst for understanding".
Hilversum, .hi-il.-.be-er.-.su-um., ahi-ile-ebe-eri-isu-umi, ahi (I hope) ilezin (immortal) ebertar (Hebrew) errixee (common
people) isuri (to inspire) umiltasun (humbleness):
"I hope that the immortal story of Jesus will inspire the common people
to humbleness".
Holland, ol.-.la-and., ola-ala-anda, olatu (waves) alaitu (to fill with
joy) andar (speeding):
"Speeding the waves fills us with joy".
Utrecht, ut.-.re-ek.-.t., uti-ire-eki-itu, utzi (to put a stop to) iresle (destruction) ekinalean (do as much as
possible) itundu (to make a
treaty): To put a stop to the destruction, do as much as possible to make a
treaty".
ITALY
Monte Cassino, .mo-on.-.te. .ka-as.-.si-ino, amo-ona-ate
ika-asa-asi-ino, amodiotsu (loving) onarketa (welcoming) aterpe (refuge) ikasleku (learning
center) asagotu (go far away) asi (to start) inon (somewhere:
"A loving and welcoming refuge. Go far away and start a learning center
somewhere".
Mont Serrat, .mo-on.-.t. .se-er.-.ra-at., amo-ona-ate ase-era-ara-ati,
amodiotsu (loving) onarketa (welcoming) aterpe (refuge) asezindaki (craving) erekuste (education) arrazi (to encourage)
atikitzaile (faithful):
"A loving and welcoming refuge. We encourage the faithful to get a
craving for education".
Rome, .ro-ome, aro-ome, arrotasun (pride) omen (honor):
"Pride and honor".
Sacro Speco, .sa-ak.-.ro .spe-eko, usa (dove, holy man) akabu (ultimate) arroztu (to exile) asperkeria (boredom) ekoizle (producing):
"Holy man in ultimate exile; producing boredom".
Subiaco, .su-ubi-ako, isu-ubi-ako, isurikatu (to waste a life) ubil (whirlpool) akorduan euki (to remember):
"Remember the waste of life in the whirlpool".
Vatican, .ba-ati-ika-an., aba-ati-ika-ana, abadeburu (head priest) atiki (to be
faithful) ikasgiro (learning
environment) anaiarte (brotherhood):
"The faithful head-priest's learning environment for the
brotherhood".
IRELAND
Aran, from aran (echo): "Echo".
Erris Head, errisku (dangerous):
"Dangerous".
Malin Head, mali-in., malizia (bad action) indarketa (contest of
strength): "Bad contest of strength".
Tralee, from trali, tra-ali, tara (sadness) alienatu (destruction
of a person): "Sadness over the death of a person".
RUSSIA and other SLAVIC COUNTRIES
Chernobil, txer.-.no-obi-il., txerrizain (swineherd) inor (no-one) obi (grave) iletu (to mourn):
"No-one mourned by the grave of the swineherd".
Dniepr, d.n-i.e.p.-.r, don-ihesp-ur, dontsu (blessed) ihespideto (means of
escape) ur (by water):
"The blessed one's means of escape was by water". Probably
referring to Chief Priestess Medea who escaped with Jason up the Dniepr after
taking the golden fleece from King Aietus. See: Apollonius of Rhodes.
Irkutsk, ir.-.ku-utsik, iri-iku-utsik, iri (city) ikustatu (to visit) utsik (deserted):
"I visited the deserted city".
Okhotsk, ok.-.ho-otsk, oka-aho-otsok, okaztagarri (disgusting) ahozagarri (astonishing) otsok (brutality):
"Astonishingly disgusting brutality".
Siberia, .si-ibe-eri-i.a, esi-ibe-eri-iha, esinguratu (to round up) ibeni (to dump) erioaldi (agony) ihaurri (to scatter):
"Round them up, dump and scatter them in agony".
Taymyr, tai.-.mi-ir., taiu-umi-ira, taiuera (size, appearance) umildi (to humble) iraganaldi (migration,
migrating herd): "The size of the migrating herd is humbling".
Kamchatka, .ka-am.-.txa-at.-.ka, ika-amo-otxa-ate-eka, ikaragarri (frightening) amorro (fury) otxoa (wolf) aterbegabe (unprotected, out
in the open) ekantze (to get used
to): "Out in the open, the frightening fury of the wolves takes getting
used to".
Kiev, .ki-eb., oki-eba, okitu (totally) ebanjeliotu (to
avangelize): "Totally evangelized".
Ukraina, uk.-.rain-a, uku-arain-a, uku (gone bad, smelly) arrain (fish) a (the):
"The smelly fish".
Vladivostok, .b.-.la-adi bo-osto-ok., aba-ala-adi bo-osto-oki, abaroan egon (to take
refuge) alabearreko (necessary) adi (watch out!) bortxakeria (violence) ostosketa (rolling of
the thunder) okildu (to be
frightened): "Watch out! It's necessary to take refuge. The violence of
the storm is frightening".
SCANDINAVIA
Uppsala, up.-.p.-.sa-ala, upa-apu-usa-ala, upa (cask) apurtu (to break) usain (smell, aroma)
alaitu (to fill with
joy): "The smell of the broken cask fills us with joy".
OCEANIA
[Hawaiian names translated
with the Basque Dictionary]
Hawaii, hau-ahi, hau (this one) ahigarri (exhausting):
"This one is exhausting", it is a long way to there.
Hilo, ilo, ilobi (tomb, grave): "Site
of the grave".
Kaula, .ka-aula, akabu (the end, when
we get there) aulagotu (to weaken):
"When we got there we were weakened".
Lanai, .la-anai, ala-anai, alabear (fate) anai (brother):
"The fate of my brother".
Laysan, lai-izan, laino (foggy) izan (to be):
"It is foggy".
Maui, .ma-uhi, ema-uhi, eman (to beat
repeatedly) uhin (wave):
"Constantly beaten by waves".
Oahu, oa-ahu, oaratu (in heat) ahuntz (female goat):
"Female goat in heat".
MARIANAS
Agiguan, agi-igu-an., agindu (orders) igurika (to wait for) -an (inside):
"Wait for orders on the island".
Agrihan, agiri-iha-an, agirian (obviously) ihar (arid) -an (inside):
"The island is obviously arid".
Guam, .gu-am., agu-ama, agur (greetings) ama (mother):
"Greetings for mother".
Guguan, .gu-.gu-an, agu-agu-an, agur (good bye) agur (good bye) andana (people):
"God buy, good buy people".
Maug, .ma-ug., ama-uga, ama (mother) ugalkor (prolific):
"Prolific mother".
Pagan, .pa-aga-an., opa-aga-ana, opari (sacrifice) -aga (abundance of) anaigo (group of
worshippers): "Group of worshippers with an abundance of
sacrifice".
Rota, .ro-ota, arro-ota, arro (proud) otargile (basket
maker): "Proud basket maker".
Saipan, sai-aipa, saiaketa (attempt) aipatu (famous for):
"Famous for attempt".
MARSHALL ISLANDS
Ailinglapalap, ai-ili-ing.-.la-apa-ala-apo, ai (strong
desire) ilinti (burning) ingiratu (to get ready)
il (to die) apaiz (priest) alabear (fate) apokeria (human
sacrifice): "I have a burning desire to get ready to die the priest's
fate of a human sacrifice".
Aur, aur (child):
"Child of Maloelap".
Bikar, bika-ar., bika-arra, bikain (extraordinary) arrantza (fishing): "Extraordinarily good fishing".
Ebon, ebo-on., ebo-ondi, eboluzio (development) ondikotsu (unfortunate):
"Unfortunate development".
Kwajalein, .ku-aja-ale-in., aku-aja-ale-in., akuila (to urge on) ajaja (laughter) -ale (agent, cause)
indar (strength):
"Laughter urges on and creates strength".
Maloelap, ma-alo-ela-ap., maiburuko (guest
speaker) alogerekotu (to be paid
money) ela (story) apaindu (to embellish,
to trump up): "The guest speaker was paid money to embellish the
story".
Taka, taka, takada (Gentle push):
"Give me a gentle push".
Utirik, uti-iri-ik.: utikan (go away) irrikatu (to desire
vehemently) ikara (terror):
"I desire vehemently to get away from the terror".
Wake, ake, akela (priestess):
"(Home of) the priestess".
Wott, ot., ota, otalur (land covered
with furze): "Island covered with furze (Leguminosae)".
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