-stan
-stan is a Persian and Sanskrit suffix that means "a place abounding in" or "place where anything abounds". It is widely used by Iranian languages, Indic languages, Turkic languages, Dravidic languages 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.
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, and Sanskrit . The Sanskrit meaning ultimately derived from Proto-Indo-Iranian *sthāna-, which was partly loaned into Ancient Greek as .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 , "place of sand, desert"; , "place of flowers, garden"; , "graveyard, cemetery"; and Hendostân/Hindustan, "Land of the Indus ".
Countries
Countries adopting the -stan suffix in both English and their national languages include:- - ;
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
Country names in various languages
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 |
| 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
In Armenia
In India
In Iran
is the name of an administrative division in Iran.In Pakistan
In Tajikistan
In other countries
Regions
- Arabistan – The name of the Arabian Peninsula and other meanings.
- Arbayistan – A late-antiquity Sasanian satrap.
- Asal Hindustan – A name for the Kingdom of Nepal.
- Asoristan – The province of Babylonia under the Sassanid Empire.
- Azadistan – A short-lived state in the Iranian province of Azarbaijan under Mohammad Khiabani.
- Bashkortostan – An administrative division of Russia in eastern Europe.
- Bashkurdistan – A national-territorial autonomy, during the Russian Civil War.
- Balawaristan – A revived historical name of Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan.
- Balochistan/Baluchistan – A region in Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.
- Baltistan – A northern region in Pakistan.
- Bantustan – An Apartheid-era South African and South West African black 'homeland'.
- Cholistan Desert – A desert region in Punjab, Pakistan.
- Dardistan – A region in northern Pakistan of Dardu speakers.
- Dihistan – A Sasanian province.
- East Pakistan – The historic name for pre-independence Bangladesh.
- East Turkestan or Uyghuristan – A region dominated by Uyghurs, located in northwest China.
- Gharchistan – A medieval region in Afghanistan.
- Hindustan - Persian name for India, broadly the Indian subcontinent.
- Indostan – Archaic usage in European languages for Hindustan.
- Iraqi Kurdistan – Kurdish-populated part of northern Iraq.
- Kadagistan – An eastern Sasanian province in the region of Tokharistan.
- Kafiristan – A historic region in Afghanistan until 1896, now known as Nuristan. A similarly named region exists in north Pakistan.
- Kohistan – several regions of this name exist.
- Kurdistan – A Kurdish region. See also Iranian Kurdistan, Iraqi Kurdistan, Syrian Kurdistan, and Turkish Kurdistan.
- Lezgistan – An ethnolinguistic region in southern Dagestan and northern Azerbaijan.
- North Waziristan – The northern part of Waziristan region in Pakistan.
- Pashtunistan – The area of Afghanistan and North-Western Pakistan historically inhabited by the Pashtuns.
- Quhistan – A region of medieval Persia, essentially the southern part of Greater Khorasan.
- Registan – A historic site in Samarkand, meaning "place of sand".
- Russian Turkestan – Turkestan in the Russian Empire, later Turkestan Autonomous SSR.
- Sakastan or Sistan – A historical and geographical region in present-day eastern Iran and southern Afghanistan.
- Saraikistan – A region in the central part of Pakistan.
- South Waziristan – The southern part of Waziristan region in Pakistan.
- Talyshstan – An ethnolinguistic region in the SE Caucasus and NW Iran.
- Tatarstan – An administrative division of Russia in eastern Europe.
- Tokharistan, Tocharistan or Tukharistan, also known as Balkh or Bactria – The ancient name of a historical region in Central Asia, located between the range of the Hindu Kush and the Amu Darya.
- Turgistan or Turestan – A Sasanian province.
- Turkestan or Turkistan – An ethnolinguistic region of Turkic peoples and languages, encompassing Central Asia, northwest China, parts of the Caucasus, and Asia Minor.
- Uyghurstan, China, same as East Turkestan.
- Waziristan – A region of northwest Pakistan.
- Yaghistan – A region in northwestern frontier of Pakistan.
Historical regions
- Frangistan – A historical term used by Muslims and Persians to refer to Western or Christian Europe.
- Funjistan - 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 – 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
- Balochistan – A proposed country for the Baloch people.
- Bangalistan – A proposed state for Bengali people in India.
- Khalistan – A proposed country for the Sikh people.
- Maronistan – A proposed state for Maronite in Lebanon during the Lebanese Civil War.
- Pashtunistan – A proposed country for Pashtun people.
- Romanistan – A proposed country for the Romani people.
- Saraikistan – A proposed province in the central part of Pakistan.
- Zazaistan – A suggested name for the region where the Zazas live.
Fictional
- Absurdistan - A satirical term for countries where absurdity is seen as normal.
- Adjikistan – A central Asian country in the video game SOCOM U.S. Navy SEALs: Combined Assault.
- Aldastan – A central Asian country consisting of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, from Command & Conquer: Generals.
- Antagonistan – A country in Heavy Weapon.
- Ardistan – A country in the novel Ardistan und Djinnistan by Karl May.
- Avgatiganistan – A country by author Eugene Trivizas meaning "fried eggs" in Greek, derived from a pun on 'Afghanistan'.
- Azadistan – A kingdom, meaning "free land", from the anime Mobile Suit Gundam 00.
- Azmanastan – A country and region in the film The Expendables 3.
- Backhairistan – The homeland of Bolbi Stroganovsky, a character from the cartoon series The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius.
- Bananastan – A country from the Popeye the Sailor comic book series, which was ruled by Saddam Shahame, a parody of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.
- Bangistan – The eponymous country in Bangistan.
- Bazrakhistan – A former Soviet republic in Act of War.
- Belgistan – A Middle Eastern country in the anime Gasaraki.
- Berzerkistan – A republic run by the dictator Trff Bmzklfrpz in the comic strip Doonesbury.
- Bilalistan - A country in the novel Lion's Blood, located in the Southeastern United States.
- Blingostan - A country in Smiling Friends ran by war criminal dictator Mr. Blingo,
- Brajikistan – A country from season 2 of the teen sitcom Wingin' It.
- Capustan – A city-state in Malazan Book of the Fallen.
- Darujhistan – A city-state in Malazan Book of the Fallen.
- Derkaderkastan – A Middle Eastern country in Team America: World Police.
- Djinnistan – A country in the novel Ardistan und Djinnistan by Karl May.
- Franistan – A country referred to in the television show I Love Lucy.
- Frigistan – A country in Heavy Weapon.
- Gohet Gostan – A country in Tiga Abdul.
- Govnostan – Used in some parts of the Internet. Translates to "shitty land".
- Hachmachistan – A country in Kickin' It.
- Helmajistan – A area from the anime Full Metal Panic!.
- Howduyustan – A country from the Uncle Scrooge comics.
- Irakistan – A country in the game Broforce.
- Iranistan – An oriental region of Hyborea.
- Istan – An island state in the online role-playing game, Guild Wars Nightfall.
- Jazeristan – A country in the movie The Misfits.
- Kabulstan – A third-world country in MacGyver.
- Kamistan – A Middle Eastern country featured in the television series 24.
- Kazanistan – An ideal state imagined by John Rawls in The Law of Peoples, in which there is a system of law, legal representation for all groups, and a respect for basic human rights, but not full democracy.
- Kehjistan – The state of the eastern jungles in the game Diablo II.
- Kekistan – A country created by 4chan members that has become a political meme and online movement.
- Kerakhistan – A Middle Eastern country featured in the tabletop miniature wargame Battlefield Evolution.
- Kerplakistan – A country in Big Time Rush.
- Kreplachistan – A country in the Austin Powers film series.
- Langtbortistan – A country in the Danish Donald Duck cartoons, literally meaning "far-away-in-stan".
- Lojbanistan – The country Lojbanists imagine themselves inhabiting.
- Moldovistan – An island country in The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest.
- Obristan – A country in Papers, Please.
- Paristan or Pari-estan – A land inhabited by fairies in the folklore of Middle East, South Asia, and Central Asia.
- Pokolistan – A country in the DC Comics universe.
- Ratznestistan – A country in Annie.
- Serdaristan – A country in Battlefield: Bad Company.
- Skandistan – A country in western Russia in The Years of Rice and Salt.
- Stanistan – A name used to describe a hypothetical union between the -stan countries.
- Taboulistan – A country in Vive la France.
- Takistan – A country in ARMA 2: Operation Arrowhead.
- Tazbekistan – A central Asian nation in the BBC television series Ambassadors.
- Turaqistan – A country in War, Inc.
- Turgistan – A central Asian dictatorship in 6 Underground.
- Turmezistan – A country in Doctor Who.
- Tyrgyzstan – A country in the BBC television drama The State Within.
- Urzikstan – A country in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare.
- Ustinkistan – A country in The Fairly OddParents.
- Yakyakistan – A northern country in My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic which is inhabited by sapient yaks.
- Zekistan – A central Asian nation in the video game Full Spectrum Warrior.