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Country Name Etymology 2

Answers are country names, including one former name.
Quiz by bocoker
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Last updated: October 30, 2024
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First submittedNovember 20, 2015
Times taken2,626
Average score78.6%
Rating4.38
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Hint
Answer
Portuguese sailors referred to this stretch of the African coast as "Serra da Leoa," the “Lion Mountain,” later translated to Italian on some maps.
Sierra Leone
Derived possibly from "Biru," either the name of a local ruler living in contemporary Panama, or a (non-existent) ethnic group thought to live along the Pacific coast further south.
Peru
From Greek, “Indian Island.”
Indonesia
From the Latin "romanus," meaning “citizen of Rome.”
Romania
From an English interpretation of the Portuguese "Rio dos Camarões" (Shrimp River).
Cameroon
The essential word of the country’s name derived from an Italian explorer, Amerigo Vespucci.
United States of America
Asian coastal country named, according to legend, from an expression, “Baru nah!” (“That’s it!”) uttered by founder Awang Alak Tetatar.
Brunei
Hint
Answer
Possibly from the Sumerian city of Uruk.
Iraq
A former name, from 1971 to 1997, derived from a Portuguese interpretation of an expression of the Kikongo language, "Ndzere," meaning “the river that swallows all rivers.”
Zaire
The Greek name appears twice in the Iliad, according to Pliny the Elder derived from a man named Aethiops.
Ethiopia
South American country named for a circle of latitude, sometimes called the great circle.
Ecuador
Named for an empire in West Africa, located northwest of the current country.
Ghana
Probably from the Iroquoian word "kanata," meaning “village” or "settlement.”
Canada
By some accounts, the first part of the name was derived from an historical association with the Huns, and the second from a Latinized form of Byzantine Greek, "Oungroi." Another possibility is that the name was derived in medieval times from the name of the people, "ungari" or "ungri."
Hungary
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17 Comments
AnnikaKim
+7
Level 64
Jun 11, 2021
I just LOVE etymology quizzes.
b1094
+2
Level 69
Apr 18, 2022
Great quiz. Nominated.

N.B. for the Ecuador question:

1. The equator isn't often known as *the* great circle. It is, however, recognised as being *one* of the various great circles. (A great circle is the largest-possible circle that can be drawn on a sphere. e.g. all of the Meridians are also great circles.)

2. Clues about the equator also apply to Equatorial Guinea.

bocoker
+1
Level 80
Apr 20, 2022
Thanks for the nice comment. Re: Ecuador, hence the "sometimes." I can't think of any other country that would qualify, should provide enough info to get it. At least if you know a bit of Spanish.
bocoker
+1
Level 80
Apr 22, 2022
Further to this. Trying to change it to a "South American ..."
akjlddkjslfsd
+1
Level 50
Apr 18, 2022
Great quiz! 5 stars.
AlyssaS613
+2
Level 46
May 18, 2023
Zaire is now known as DRC
bocoker
+1
Level 80
May 31, 2023
Hence "former name."
boltok
+11
Level 68
Jan 31, 2024
It's worded as "Former name derived from..." which I interpreted as "its former name was derived from...".

Even if that wasn't the intent, "DRC" and "Congo" should still be accepted answers.

Jealous1sEnvy
+2
Level 89
May 29, 2024
I agree
bocoker
+1
Level 80
Nov 2, 2024
I hope that the small change clarifies this a bit.
Poobert
+1
Level 41
May 29, 2024
I thought there was evidence that the name "America" didn't come from Amerigo due to maps having America on them before his association with it. The theory is that America comes from a Central American Tribe called the "Amerique" or something similar to that. Also, the name Hungary doesn't come from the Huns but rather only from the Greek word shown in the description who's Latin translation is "Ungri".
bocoker
+1
Level 80
Oct 25, 2024
I stand by a few sources on this one, including: https://blogs.loc.gov/loc/2016/07/how-did-america-get-its-name/
stylus
+5
Level 77
Oct 25, 2024
why is just "H" an accepted type-in for the final answer?
bocoker
+1
Level 80
Oct 25, 2024
Not intended. Now hopefully fixed. Thanks.
Gossguy
+5
Level 65
Oct 25, 2024
"Hungary" appears by just typing "H". you probably didn't intend this
bocoker
+1
Level 80
Oct 25, 2024
A big Home Simpson "d'oh!" for that. Got it. Thanks
ston366
+1
Level 52
Oct 25, 2024
Great quiz! :)
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