-stān

-stan (Persian: ستان )(Sanskrit: ''sthān'' or ''sthānam)'' is a Persian suffix that has the meaning of "a place abounding in" or "place where anything abounds" as a suffix. It is widely used by Iranian languages (mainly Persian) and the Indic languages (mainly Sanskrit, Prakrit and Hindustani) as well as the 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.

Etymology and cognates

The suffix ''-stan'' is analogous to the suffix ''-land'', present in many country and location names. The suffix is also used more generally, as in Persian and Sanskrit which are (, ऋगेस्तान), "place of sand, desert"; (, गोलेस्तान), "place of flowers, garden"; (, गुरेस्तान), "graveyard, cemetery"; and '' Hendostân/Hindustan'' (, ), "Land of the Indus (India)".

Originally an independent noun, this morpheme evolved into a suffix by virtue of appearing frequently as the last part in nominal compounds. It is of Indo-Iranian and ultimately Indo-European origin. It is cognate with the English word '' stead'', Polish ''stan'' (estate, or New World first-level subdivisions), and with Sanskrit ( ), meaning "the act of standing", from which many further meanings derive, including "place, location; abode, dwelling". This meaning is ultimately related to Proto-Indo-Iranian , partly loaned into Ancient Greek as ().

Countries

Countries adopting the -stan suffix in both English and these countries' national languages include:
* - ;
* -
* -
* -
* -
* -
* -
* - (informal name in the Hindustani language)
* - (Armenian name)

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

Country names in various languages

Administrative divisions

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

Administrative subdivisions

The following list shows some examples of some second-level, third-level, and fourth-level subdivisions inside different countries that have their names ending in a ''-stan''-like suffix.

In Afghanistan

In Armenia

In India

In Iran

Dehestan 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 – administrative division of Russia in eastern Europe
* Bashkurdistan – 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' (the term coined by analogy)
* Cholistan Desert – a desert region in Punjab, Pakistan
* Dardistan – a region in northern Pakistan of Dardu speakers
* Dihistan – a Sassanian 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 – Kadagistan was the name of an eastern Sasanian province in the region of Tokharistan (in what is now north-eastern Afghanistan).
* Kafiristan (land of the infidels) – 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 – Kurdish region. See also Iranian Kurdistan, Iraqi Kurdistan, Syrian Kurdistan, and Turkish Kurdistan.
* Lezgistan – ethnolinguistic region in southern Dagestan and northern Azerbaijan
* North Waziristan – northern part of Waziristan region in Pakistan
* Pashtunistan – the area of Afghanistan and North-Western Pakistan historically inhabited by the Pashtun tribes
* Quhistan – a region of medieval Persia, essentially the southern part of Greater Khorasan
* Registan – 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 (Sistan and Baluchestan Province) and southern Afghanistan
* Saraikistan – a region in the south-western part of Punjab, Pakistan, with a majority of Saraiki speakers
* South Waziristan – southern part of Waziristan region in Pakistan
* Talyshstan – ethnolinguistic region in the SE Caucasus and NW Iran
* Tatarstan – 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 (Oxus)
* Turgistan or Turestan – a Sasanian province
* Turkestan or Turkistan – 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

Historical regions

* Frangistan – a historical term used (by Muslims and Persians in particular) to refer to Western or Christian Europe.
* Funjistan (Funj) - a historical empire ubicated in modern-day 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 today's Zabul Province in southern Afghanistan.

Proposed names

* Bangalistan – a proposed state in India.
* Khalistan – a proposed country for the Sikh people.
* Maronistan – a proposed name for Maronite state in Lebanon during the Lebanese Civil War.
* Romanistan – a proposed country for the Romani people.
* Saraikistan – a proposed province in Pakistan.
* Zazaistan – a suggested name for the region where the Zazas live.

Fictional

* Absurdistan - various
* Adjikistan – a fictional central Asian country in the video game '' SOCOM U.S. Navy SEALs: Combined Assault''.
* Aldastan – a fictional central Asian country consisting of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, from '' Command & Conquer: Generals''.
* Antagonistan – a fictional country in '' Heavy Weapon''
* Ardistan – a fictional country in the novel ''Ardistan und Djinnistan'' by Karl May.
* Avgatiganistan – a pun of 'Afghanistan', it means 'Fried eggs' ('Avga tiganista') in Greek. Fictional country by author Eugene Trivizas.
* Azadistan – a fictional kingdom from the anime Mobile Suit Gundam 00; it means "free land".
* Azmanastan (or Uzmenistan) – a fictional country and region in the film ''The Expendables 3''.
* Backhairistan- the fictional homeland of Bolbi Stroganovsky, a character from the cartoon series Jimmy Neutron
* Bananastan – A fictional country from the Popeye the Sailor, an Iraqi dictator.
* Bangistan – a fictional country in the Bollywood movie Bangistan (2015) starring Riteish Deshmukh and Pulkit Samrat.
* Bazrakhistan – a fictional former Soviet republic in the movie ''Act of War'' (1998) starring Jack Scalia.
* Belgistan – a fictional Middle Eastern country in the anime ''Gasaraki''.
* Berzerkistan – a fictional republic run by genocidal terrorist godhead and President for life, Trff Bmzklfrpz, in the comic strip ''Doonesbury''.
* Bilalistan - a country in the novel Lion's Blood, OTL Southeastern United States, Dixie, Confederate States
* Blingostan - a fictional country in the show Smiling Friends ran by war criminal dictator Mr. Blingo who commits genocide
* Brajikistan – a fictional country from season 2 of the teen sitcom ''Wingin' It''.
* Capustan – a fictional city-state in ''Malazan Book of the Fallen''.
* Cobrastan – a fake fictional country made up by a character named Jorji Costava in his passport from the game ''Papers, Please.''
* Darujhistan – a fictional city-state in ''Malazan Book of the Fallen''.
* Derkaderkastan – a fictional Middle Eastern country in '' Team America: World Police''.
* Djinnistan – a fictional country in the novel ''Ardistan und Djinnistan'' by Karl May.
* Franistan – a fictional country referred to in the television show ''I Love Lucy''.
* Frigistan – a fictional country in '' Heavy Weapon''
* Gohet Gostan – a fictional country in '' Tiga Abdul''
* Hachmachistan – fictional country in ''Kickin' It''
* Helmajistan – a fictional area from the anime ''Full Metal Panic!''.
* Howduyustan ("how do you stand?") – a fictional country from the ''Uncle Scrooge'' comic book stories.
* Irakistan – a fictional country in the game Broforce
* Iranistan – an oriental region of Hyborea (''Conan the Barbarian stories'').
* Istan – a fictional island state in the online role-playing game, ''Guild Wars Nightfall''.
* Jazeristan – fictional country in the movie '' The Misfits''.
* Kabulstan – a fictional very hostile third world country that does not like strangers (''MacGyver (1985 TV series)'')
* Kamistan (Islamic Republic of) – a fictional 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 fictional country created by 4chan members that has become a political meme and online movement.
* Kerakhistan – a fictional Middle Eastern country featured in the tabletop miniature wargame '' Battlefield Evolution''.
* Kerplakistan – fictional country in ''Big Time Rush''
* Kreplachistan – a fictional country in the ''Austin Powers'' film series.
* Langtbortistan – a fictional country in the Danish ''Donald Duck'' cartoons, literally meaning "far-away-in-stan"
* Långtbortistan - same as the Danish Donald Duck cartoons, but in the Swedish versions.
* Langtvekkistan - same as the Danish Donald Duck cartoons, but in the Norwegian versions.
* Lojbanistan – the fictional country Lojbanists imagine themselves inhabiting
* Moldovistan – a fictional island country in ''The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest''.
* Obristan – a fictional country in ''Papers, Please''.
* Paristan or Pari-estan – a ''fairyland'' in the folklore of Middle East, South Asia, and Central Asia.
* Porpoisestan - a fictional hometown country where Pei Pei the Purple Panda lives here in the Thumb Wrestling Federation.
* Pokolistan – a fictional country in ''DC Comics''.
* Ratznestistan – a fictional country in '' Annie''.
* Serdaristan – a fictional country in '' Battlefield: Bad Company''.
* Skandistan - a fictional country in western Russia in The Years of Rice and Salt
* Stanistan A common name used to describe a fictional union between the -stan countries.
* Taboulistan – a fictional country in ''Vive la France''
* Takistan – a fictional country in '' ARMA 2: Operation Arrowhead''.
* Tazbekistan – a fictional central Asian nation in the BBC television series ''Ambassadors''.
* Trashcanistan – a fictional country mentioned by the hosts of " MXC".
* Turaqistan – a fictional country in the movie ''War, Inc.''
* Turgistan – a fictional central Asian dictatorship in '' 6 Underground''.
* Turmezistan – a fictional country in ''Doctor Who''.
* Tyrgyzstan – a fictional country in the BBC television drama ''The State Within''.
* Urzikstan – a fictional country in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019 video game)
* Ustinkistan – fictional country in ''The Fairly OddParents''
* Yakyakistan – a fictional northern country in '' My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic''.
* Zekistan – a fictional central Asian nation in the video game '' Full Spectrum Warrior''.

Other

* Absurdistan – sometimes used to satirically describe a country where everything goes wrong
* Angyalistan – a micronation that claims garbage patches in international waters
* Autistan – the "metaphorical country" of the autistic people
* Bailoutistan (or Bailoutistan 2.0) - sarcastic term for Greece following the European Union bail out packages, coined by Yanis Varoufakis in his book 'Adults in the Room: My Battle With the European and American Deep Establishment'
* Bimaristan – a kind of hospital in medieval Persia and the medieval Islamic world
* Bradistan – a moniker for Bradford, England, owing to its large population of Pakistani worker migrants
* Canuckistan (full name being The People's Republic of Soviet Canuckistan) – epithet for Canada, used by Pat Buchanan on 31 October 2002, on his television show on MSNBC in which he denounced Canadians as anti-American and the country as a haven for terrorists. He was reacting to Canadian criticisms of US security measures regarding Arab Canadians
* Cavaquistan (''Cavaquistão'' in Portuguese) – a name coined after the former Portuguese President and Prime-Minister Aníbal Cavaco Silva, referring to the regions of Portugal where he achieved landslide victories in the elections held in the late 1980s and early 1990s (especially in the Viseu District); intended pun with Kazakhstan (''Cazaquistão'' in Portuguese)
* Dalitstan.org – a Dalit advocacy website active until mid-2006, one of 18 websites that were blocked by the Indian government to check for hate messages following the 2006 Mumbai train bombings.
* Extremistan and Mediocristan – used by author Nassim Nicholas Taleb to illustrate concepts of black swan theory in '' The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable''
* Filmistan – a film-production company
* Fondukistan or Fondoqestān – an early medieval settlement and Buddhist monastery in Afghanistan
* Gazimestan – name of a monument commemorating the historical Battle of Kosovo
* Hookturnistan – satirical name of Melbourne, Victoria, due to the large number of hook turns on city roads
* Hamastan – a concept of a Palestinian Islamic government with Sharia as law
* Iranistan – a pseudo-orientalist mansion built for P. T. Barnum in 1848 in Connecticut
* Islamistan – means 'Land of Islam', used in various contexts
* Londonistan – French counter-terrorism agents gave the British/English capital of London this sobriquet. Sometimes used derogatorily to refer to the large immigrant, especially Muslim, population in London.
* Muristan – a complex of streets and shops in the Christian Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem
* ''New Yorkistan'' – the title of the cover art for the 10 December 2001, edition of ''The New Yorker'' magazine
** The New Yorkistan map itself included various districts ending in ''-stan'', e.g., Bronxistan, Cold Turkeystan, Fuhgeddabouditstan, Gaymenistan, Taxistan, Youdontunderstandistan, etc.
* Orbánistan – a derogatory term for Hungary under the rule of Viktor Orbán
* Paganistan – the pagan/neo-pagan community of Minneapolis-Saint Paul in Minnesota
* Quebecistan – a term coined by Barbara Kay in 2006 in reference to Quebec, Canada.
* Sarvestan – a Sasanian-era palace in the Iranian province of Sarvestan
* Shabestan – an underground space, usually found in the traditional architecture of mosques, houses, and schools in ancient Persia
* Shahrestan (several meanings)
* Skateistan – a skateboarding/educational organization based in Kabul, Afghanistan
* Swedistan – a derogatory term for Sweden due to its growing immigration from Islamic countries. It is sometimes used by internet users to attack or offend Swedish Muslims.
* Talibanistan – a name for the government of Afghanistan under the Taliban
* Zaqistan – a micronation currently in Nevada

See also

* -abad
* -an
* -desh
* -land
* -patnam
* -pur
* -tania
* List of geographic names of Iranian origin
* Oikonyms in Western and South Asia

Notes

References

Sources

*
*

Further reading

* Maciuszak, Kinga.
The Persian Suffix -(e)stān 'The Land Of'
' ''Studia Etymologica Cracoviensia'' 13 (2008): 119–140.

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Stan
Suffixes
Place name element etymologies
Persian words and phrases
Bengali words and phrases
English suffixes
Nepali words and phrases