Maidan is an originally

Persian Persian may refer to: * People and things from Iran, historically called ''Persia'' in the English language ** Persians, the majority ethnic group in Iran, not to be conflated with the Iranic peoples ** Persian language, an Iranian language of the ...

word for a

town square A town square (or public square, urban square, city square or simply square), also called a plaza or piazza, is an open public space commonly found in the heart of a traditional town or city, and which is used for community gatherings. Relat ...

or public

gathering place A gathering place is any place where people are able to congregate. Gathering places may be public; for example, city streets, town squares, and parks; or private; for example, churches, coffee shops, stadiums, and theaters. Examples of gatherin ...

(Persian: ), adopted by various other languages:

Urdu Urdu (; , , ) is an Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan language spoken chiefly in South Asia. It is the Languages of Pakistan, national language and ''lingua franca'' of Pakistan. In India, it is an Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of Indi ...

(''maidān'');

Arabic Arabic (, , or , ) is a Central Semitic languages, Central Semitic language of the Afroasiatic languages, Afroasiatic language family spoken primarily in the Arab world. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) assigns lang ...

(''maydān''); Turkish ; Georgian (''moedani'');

Bangla Bangla () may refer to: *Bengali language, an eastern Indo-Aryan language *The endonym of Bengal, a geographical and ethno-linguistic region in South Asia *''Bangla-'', a prefix indicating Bangladesh *West Bengal, a state in eastern India, also kn ...

ময়দান, meaning field, and Crimean Tatar, from which Ukrainian also borrowed . Its ultimate source is

Proto-Indo-European Proto-Indo-European (PIE) is the reconstructed common ancestor of the Indo-European language family. No direct record of Proto-Indo-European exists; its proposed features have been derived by linguistic reconstruction from documented Indo-Euro ...

– compare

Avestan Avestan ( ) is the liturgical language of Zoroastrianism. It belongs to the Iranian languages, Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages, Indo-European language family and was First language, originally spoken during the Avestan period, Old ...

Sanskrit Sanskrit (; stem form ; nominal singular , ,) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in northwest South Asia after its predecessor languages had Trans-cultural ...

() and Latin . Various versions include ''maydan'', ''midan'', ''meydan'', ''majdan'', ''mayadeen'' and ''maydān''. It also means field (मैदान) in Hindi. It became a loanword in other

South Asian languages South Asia is home to several hundred languages, spanning the countries of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. It is home to the fourth most spoken language in the world, Hindi–Urdu; the sevent ...

to give similar means, such as in

Tamil Tamil may refer to: People, culture and language * Tamils, an ethno-linguistic group native to India, Sri Lanka, and some other parts of Asia **Sri Lankan Tamils, Tamil people native to Sri Lanka ** Myanmar or Burmese Tamils, Tamil people of Ind ...

in which the word is ''maidhanam''. The broad geographical footprint of the use of ''Maidan'' in

toponymy Toponymy, toponymics, or toponomastics is the study of '' toponyms'' ( proper names of places, also known as place names and geographic names), including their origins, meanings, usage, and types. ''Toponym'' is the general term for a proper na ...

, from Central Europe to South-East Asia, is a reflection of the Turkish rule in these areas.

Places

In Eastern
West Asia West Asia (also called Western Asia or Southwest Asia) is the westernmost region of Asia. As defined by most academics, UN bodies and other institutions, the subregion consists of Anatolia, the Arabian Peninsula, Iran, Mesopotamia, the Armenian ...
, and Southern
Central Asia Central Asia is a region of Asia consisting of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The countries as a group are also colloquially referred to as the "-stans" as all have names ending with the Persian language, Pers ...

*''Maidaan-e naqsh-e jehaan'' or

Naqsh-e Jahan Square The Naqsh-e Jahan Square (), also known as the Shah Square () prior to 1979, and sometimes known as the Imam Square, is a maidan, square situated at the center of Isfahan (city), Isfahan, Iran. Constructed between 1598 and 1629, it is now an impo ...

, a square in the centre of

Isfahan Isfahan or Esfahan ( ) is a city in the Central District (Isfahan County), Central District of Isfahan County, Isfahan province, Iran. It is the capital of the province, the county, and the district. It is located south of Tehran. The city ...

, Iran Towns and villages in Iran: *

Meydan, Fars Meydan (, also Romanized as Meydān) is a village in Jowzar Rural District, in the Central District of Mamasani County, Fars province, Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country in W ...

, Fars Province *

Meydan, Ilam Meydan () is a village in, and the capital of, Mish Khas Rural District of Sivan District, Ilam County, Ilam province, Iran. The previous capital of the rural district was the village of Jafarabad, now a city. Demographics Ethnicity The vil ...

, Ilam Province *

Meydan, Baft Meydan (, also Romanized as Meydān) is a village in Khabar Rural District, in the Central District of Baft County, Kerman Province, Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country in Wes ...

, Kerman Province *

Meydan, Rabor Meydan (, also Romanized as Meydān) is a village in Javaran Rural District, Hanza District, Rabor County, Kerman Province, Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. I ...

, Kerman Province *

Meydan, Harsin Meydan (, also Romanized as Meydān) is a village in Cheshmeh Kabud Rural District, in the Central District of Harsin County, Kermanshah Province, Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a c ...

, Kermanshah Province *

Meydan, Kermanshah Meydan (, also Romanized as Meydān) is a village in Osmanvand Rural District, Firuzabad District, Kermanshah County, Kermanshah Province, Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country ...

, Kermanshah Province *

Meydan, Sonqor Meydan (, also Romanized as Meydān; also known as Mayāna) is a village in Gavrud Rural District, in the Central District of Sonqor County, Kermanshah Province, Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known ...

, Kermanshah Province *

Meydan, Khuzestan Meydan (, also Romanized as Meydān) is a village in Mahur Berenji Rural District, Sardasht District, Dezful County, Khuzestan Province, Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country in ...

, Khuzestan Province *

Meydan, Dorud Meydan (, also Romanized as Meydān) is a village in Chalanchulan Rural District, Silakhor District, Dorud County, Lorestan Province, Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country in W ...

, Khuzestan Province * Meydan, Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad * Meydan-e Mozaffarkhan, Kurdistan * Meydan, West Azerbaijan * Meydan-e Olya, West Azerbaijan Province *

Meydan-e Sofla Meydan-e Sofla (, also Romanized as Meydān-e Soflá; also known as Meydān-e Pā'īn) is a village in Dizaj Rural District, in the Central District of Khoy County, West Azerbaijan Province, Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic o ...

, West Azerbaijan Province *

Meydan Khalaf Meydan Khalaf () is a village in, and the capital of, Mazhin Rural District of Mazhin District, Darreh Shahr County, Ilam province, Ilam province, Iran. The previous capital of the rural district was the village of Mazhin, Iran, Mazhin, now a ...

* Meydan Tarreh Barahvaz * Meydan Jiq, Malekan * Meydan-e Bozorg, Lorestan Province * Meydanlar, East Azerbaijan Province * Meydan-e Khodaverdi * Meydan-e Tafalli *

Ban Meydan-e Abdollah Ban Meydan-e Abdollah (, also Romanized as Bān Meydān-e ‘Abdollāh; also known as Bāmīān ‘Abdollāh, Bānmeydān, and Bān Meydān-e Soflā) is a village in Cheleh Rural District, in the Central District of Gilan-e Gharb County, Kermansha ...

* Chal Meydan * Eslamabad-e Sar Meydan * Kalateh-ye Meydan *

Qaleh Meydan (disambiguation) Qaleh Meydan or Qaleh-i-Maidan or Qaleh-ye Meydan or Qallah-i-Maidan () may refer to: * Qaleh-ye Meydan, Khuzestan * Qaleh Meydan, Razavi Khorasan {{geodis ...

, various places * Qezelejah Meydan * Sang Dar Meydan (disambiguation), various places * Sarmeydan * Soltan Meydan * Tak Meydan * Meydan, Afghanistan, village in Balkh Province in northern Afghanistan *

Maydan, Kyrgyzstan Maydan () is a village in Batken Region of Kyrgyzstan. It is part of the Kadamjay District. Its population was 2,168 in 2021. Nearby towns and villages include Pum Pum () is a village in Batken Region of Kyrgyzstan. It is part of the Kadamjay Di ...

, a town in Kyrgyzstan * Maidan Shar, the capital of

Maidan Wardak Wardak is one of the 34 provinces of Afghanistan, located in central Afghanistan. Its capital is the closest provincial city to Kabul. Wardak Have 8 District. Wardak or Wardag ( Dari/Pashto: ), is one of the 34 provinces of Afghanistan, located i ...

province, north-eastern Afghanistan * Mehraneh river (Meydan Chayi), a river in north-western Tabriz, Iran *''Tavisuplebis Moedani'' or

Freedom Square, Tbilisi Freedom Square or Liberty Square is located in the center of Tbilisi, Georgia, at the eastern end of Rustaveli Avenue (in Georgian, it is თავისუფლების მოედანი ''Tavisuplebis moedani'', pronounced ). Under I ...

, the central square of Tbilisi, Georgia

In South Asia and Southeast Asia

Maidan (Tirah) Maidan, or Tirah Maidan, is a remote valley located in the Tirah region in Khyber Agency, Pakistan. Description Maidan lies at an elevation of about 7,400 ft (2,300 m), close under the snow-bound Spin Ghar mountain range, which separates i ...

, a remote valley in Khyber District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan * Maidan, Nepal, a municipality in southern Nepal * Maidan, Lower Dir District, a valley in Lower Dir District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan *

Asramam Maidan The Asramam Maidanam or Ashramam Maithanam is an urban park, or ''maidhanam'', in the city of Kollam, in Kerala, India. At , it is the largest open space within Kerala Municipal Corporation limits. The ''maidan'' is considered one of the green l ...

, the first airport of Kerala state, in Kollam, India *

Medan Medan ( , ) is the capital city, capital and largest city of the Indonesian Provinces of Indonesia, province of North Sumatra. The nearby Strait of Malacca, Port of Belawan, and Kualanamu International Airport make Medan a regional hub and multi ...

, Indonesia – capital city of North Sumatra province *

Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium, Hyderabad The Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium, formerly known as Fateh Maidan, is a multi-purpose sports stadium in Hyderabad, Telangana. The stadium is primarily used for cricket and association football. The stadium was renamed in 1967 in memory of Lal Ba ...

, India, originally named ''Fateh Maidan'' ("Victory Square") *

Maidan (Kolkata) Maidan (; ) is a large urban area containing vast urban green space, parks, playgrounds and several public venues in the center of Kolkata (Calcutta), India. The area is spread over a total area of . The urban green space of Maidan, which comp ...

, India, also referred to as the Brigade Parade Ground

In the rest of West Asia

Meydan, Gölbaşı Meydan is a village in the Gölbaşı District, Adıyaman Province, Turkey Turkey, officially the Republic of Türkiye, is a country mainly located in Anatolia in West Asia, with a relatively small part called East Thrace in Southeast Eu ...

, a village in the district of Gölbaşı, Adıyaman Province, Turkey *

Meydan, Kurucaşile Meydan is a village in the Kurucaşile District, Bartın Province, Turkey Turkey, officially the Republic of Türkiye, is a country mainly located in Anatolia in West Asia, with a relatively small part called East Thrace in Southeast Eur ...

, a village in the district of Kurucaşile, Bartın Province, Turkey *

Sultanahmet Square The Hippodrome of Constantinople (; ; ) was a circus that was the sporting and social centre of Constantinople, capital of the Byzantine Empire. Today it is a square in Istanbul, Turkey, known as Sultanahmet Square (). The word ''hippodrome'' ...

(''Sultanahmet Meydanı''), formerly ''Atmeydanı'' ("Horse Square"), in the center of Istanbul, Turkey **''Taksim Meydanı'' or

Taksim Square Taksim Square (, ), situated in Beyoğlu in the European part of Istanbul, Turkey, is a major tourist and leisure district famed for its restaurants, shops, and hotels. It is considered the heart of modern Istanbul, with the central station of th ...

, another central public square in Istanbul, Turkey *''Midan at-Tahrir'' or

Tahrir Square Tahrir Square (, ; ), also known as Martyr Square, is a public town square in downtown Cairo, Egypt. The square has been the location and focus for political demonstrations. The 2011 Egyptian revolution and the resignation of President of Egypt, ...

, the central public space of Cairo, Egypt **The esplanade formerly known as ''Maydan'' or Hippodrome outside the

Cairo Citadel The Citadel of Cairo or Citadel of Saladin () is a medieval Islamic-era fortification in Cairo, Egypt, built by Salah ad-Din (Saladin) and further developed by subsequent Egyptian rulers. It was the seat of government in Egypt and the residenc ...

* Majdan (Novi Kneževac), a village in North Banat District, Vojvodina province, Serbia *

Meidan Ekbis Meidan Ekbis () or Maydan Ikbis or Midan Akbas, is a town in northern Syria, administratively part of the Afrin District of Aleppo Governorate, located north of Aleppo. Nearby localities include Afrin and Rajo to the south. The town lies on the ...

, a small town in Syria * Al-Midan, neighbourhood and municipality in Damascus, Syria * Maydan al Shajara, a town square in Benghazi, Libya * Tašmajdan Park, a major public space in Belgrade, Serbia *

Dubai Meydan City Dubai Meydan City is a new development under construction in the Ras Al Khor area of Dubai, UAE. The project was master planned by Teo A. Khing Design Consultants (TAK) who also master planned the Meydan Racecourse . It was launched on the eve o ...

, United Arab Emirates **

Meydan Racecourse Meydan Racecourse is a racecourse in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The grandstand is a half mile in length, and can accommodate over 60,000 spectators. Meydan opened on 27 March 2010, replacing Nad Al Sheba Racecourse, which formerly occu ...

, a horse racetrack **

Entisar Tower Burj Azizi (Arabic: برج عزيزي) is an under construction skyscraper and a centrepiece of Sheikh Zayed Road, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It will have 133 floors for various purposes. Burj Azizi could be the world's second tallest build ...

(Meydan Tower), skyscraper to be built in the city *''Maidan'', the Romanian name for

Majdanpek Majdanpek ( sr-cyr, Мајданпек; ) is a town and municipality located in the Bor District of the eastern Serbia, and is not far from the border of Romania. According to 2022 census, the municipality of Majdanpek had a population of 14,559 ...

in Serbia *''Mïdän at Taḥrǐr'' or

, Alexandria, Egypt *

Tahrir Square, Sanaa Al-Tahrir Square, also known as Al-Tahreer Square or Tahreer Square, is a square in central Sanaʽa, Yemen. It is located west of the Abbas Mosque and the Sultan Palace Hotel, south of the National Museum of Yemen, and north of the Yemen Militar ...

, or ''Maidan at-Tahrir'', in Sanaa, Yemen *

Al-Maidan Square Al-Maidan Square (), also known as just al-Maidan, is an old locality and area located in Al-Rusafa, Iraq, al-Rusafa district in Baghdad, Iraq, that begins from Bab al-Mu'adham to al-Rashid Street. The square includes many buildings, markets, de ...

, Baghdad, Iraq ** Al-Maidan Mosque, the main mosque located in the square

In Poland

Poland took up the word ''majdan'' from its numerous exchanges with the Ottoman and other Persianate-influenced cultures. * Majdan, Gmina Wojsławice in Lublin Voivodeship * Majdan, Gmina Żmudź in Lublin Voivodeship * Majdan, Hrubieszów County in Lublin Voivodeship *

Majdan, Janów Lubelski County Majdan () is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Modliborzyce, within Janów Lubelski County, Lublin Voivodeship, in eastern Poland. It lies approximately south-west of Modliborzyce, west of Janów Lubelski, and south of the regio ...

in Lublin Voivodeship *

Majdan, Białystok County Majdan () is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Michałowo, within Białystok County, Podlaskie Voivodeship, in north-eastern Poland, close to the border with Belarus Belarus, officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked ...

in Podlaskie Voivodeship * Majdan, Hajnówka County in Podlaskie Voivodeship * Majdan, Suwałki County in Podlaskie Voivodeship * Majdan, Tomaszów Lubelski County in Lublin Voivodeship * Majdan, Lesko County in Subcarpathian Voivodeship * Majdan, Garwolin County in Masovian Voivodeship * Majdan, Mińsk County in Masovian Voivodeship *

Majdan, Ostrołęka County Majdan () is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Baranowo, within Ostrołęka County, Masovian Voivodeship, in east-central Poland. It lies approximately south-west of Baranowo, north-west of Ostrołęka, and north of Warsaw ...

in Masovian Voivodeship * Majdan, Otwock County in Masovian Voivodeship *

Majdan, Gmina Łochów Majdan () is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Łochów, within Węgrów County, Masovian Voivodeship Masovian Voivodeship or Mazowieckie Province (, ) and any variation thereof, is a Voivodeships of Poland, voivodeship (provinc ...

in Masovian Voivodeship * Majdan, Gmina Stoczek in Masovian Voivodeship * Majdan, Gmina Wierzbno in Masovian Voivodeship * Majdan, Wołomin County in Masovian Voivodeship * Majdan, Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship

In Romania

*Maidan, a village in

Cacica Cacica (, ) is a commune in Suceava County, in the historical region of Bukovina, northeastern Romania. The commune is located in the central part of the county, from the town of Gura Humorului, from the city of Rădăuți, and from the coun ...

Commune, Suceava County *''Maidan'', the former name of Brădișoru de Jos village,

Oravița Oravița (; ; ; ; sh-Latn-Cyrl, Oravica, separator=/, Оравица) is a town in the Banat region of Romania, in Caraș-Severin County, with a population of 9,346 in 2021. Its theater is a fully functional scaled down version of the old Burgth ...

Town, Caraș-Severin County

In Ukraine

Maidan Nezalezhnosti Maidan Nezalezhnosti (, ) or Independence Square is the central town square of Kyiv, the capital city of Ukraine. One of the city's main squares, it is located on Khreshchatyk Street in the Shevchenko Raion. The square contains the iconic Ind ...

(Майдан Незалежності) or Independence Square, the central square of

Kyiv Kyiv, also Kiev, is the capital and most populous List of cities in Ukraine, city of Ukraine. Located in the north-central part of the country, it straddles both sides of the Dnieper, Dnieper River. As of 1 January 2022, its population was 2, ...

, a metro station on line M2 *

Maidan Konstytutsii (Kharkiv Metro) Maidan Konstytutsii (, ) is a station on the Kharkiv Metro's Kholodnohirsko–Zavodska Line. The station was opened on 23 August 1975. It is located in the historical part of Kharkiv, beneath the Constitution square (Kharkiv), Maidan Konstytutsi ...

, or Constitution Square, a metro station in Kharkiv * Maidan Pratsi (Kryvyi Rih Metrotram) *

Staryi Maidan Staryi Maidan (), formerly Starozakrevskyi Maidan until 1938 (, literally "Old Zakrevsky Maidan", maidan meaning "public square"), is a village located between Derazhnia and Vovkovyntsi, in Khmelnytskyi Raion of Khmelnytskyi Oblast near Kalna in ...

, village in Khmelnytskyi Raion, Khmelnytskyi Oblast * Viche Maidan (Ivano-Frankivsk), a city square *Maidan, a village in

Berehomet Berehomet (; ; ; ) is a rural settlement in Vyzhnytsia Raion, Chernivtsi Oblast, western Ukraine. It hosts the administration of Berehomet settlement hromada, one of the hromadas of Ukraine. The settlement lies on the Siret River. As of the 2 ...

rural hromada, Vyzhnytsia Raion, Chernivtsi Oblast *Maidan, a village in Vyzhnytsia urban hromada,

Vyzhnytsia Raion Vyzhnytsia Raion () is an administrative raion (district) in the southern part of Chernivtsi Oblast, located in the historical region of Bukovina, in western Ukraine, on the Romanian border. The region has an area of and centers on the city of Vy ...

, Chernivtsi Oblast *Maidan, a village in Tysmenytsia Raion, Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast

Other uses in Ukraine

* Maidan (2014 film) *

Maidan People's Union The Maidan People's Union () was an alliance in Ukraine formed by several political parties and non-partisan individuals and public organizations on the fifth Sunday (22 December 2013) of the Euromaidan-protests with the aim of "building a new Ukr ...

, political party *

Euromaidan Euromaidan ( ; , , ), or the Maidan Uprising, was a wave of Political demonstration, demonstrations and civil unrest in Ukraine, which began on 21 November 2013 with large protests in Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square) in Kyiv. The p ...

Anti-Maidan The anti-Maidan (; ) refers to a number of pro-Russian demonstrations in Ukraine in 2013 and 2014 that were directed against Euromaidan and later the new Ukrainian government. The initial participants were in favor of supporting the cabinet of ...

** Anti-Maidan (Russia) ** AutoMaidan * February 2014 Maidan revolution

Notes

{{Set index article Toponymy

Places

In South Asia and Southeast Asia

In the rest of West Asia

In Poland

In Romania

In Ukraine

Other uses in Ukraine

See also

Notes