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:-stan

{{Short description|Persian-language suffix used for place names}}

{{Other uses|Stan (disambiguation)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2023}}

File:Stansuffixmap.png

stan (Persian: ستان {{Transliteration|fa|stân{{noitalics|,}}Applies after a vowel, e.g. Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan.}} {{Transliteration|fa|estân {{noitalics|or}} istânApplies after a consonant, e.g Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan.}}; Sanskrit: {{lang|sa|स्तान्}} stān or {{lang|sa|स्थानम्}} sthānam) 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.{{cite news |last1=Ford |first1=Matt |title=Kazakhstan's President Is Tired of His Country's Name Ending in 'Stan' |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2014/02/kazakhstans-president-is-tired-of-his-countrys-name-ending-in-stan/283676/ |access-date=28 October 2022 |work=The Atlantic |date=7 February 2014 |language=en |archive-date=25 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221025082333/https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2014/02/kazakhstans-president-is-tired-of-his-countrys-name-ending-in-stan/283676/ |url-status=live}}

Etymology and cognates

{{See also|Oikonyms in Western and South Asia}}

{{grammar|date=May 2024}}

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 {{transliteration|fa|rigestân}} ({{lang|fa|ریگستان}}, ऋगेस्तान), "place of sand, desert"; {{transliteration|fa|golestân}} ({{lang|fa|گلستان}}, गोलेस्तान), "place of flowers, garden"; {{transliteration|ga|gurestân}} ({{lang|fa|گورستان}}, गुरेस्तान), "graveyard, cemetery";{{cite book |first=Leila |last=Moshiri |chapter=English-Persian Glossary |title=Colloquial Persian |year=1988 |publisher=Routledge |page=150 |isbn=0-415-00886-7}} and Hendostân/Hindustan ({{lang|fa|هندوستان}}, {{lang|sa|हिन्दुस्तान}}), "Land of the Indus (India)".{{cite book |last1=Kapur |first1=Anu |title=Mapping Place Names of India |date=2019 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=978-0-429-61421-7 |language=en}}

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 {{transliteration|sa|sthā́na}} ({{lang|sa|स्थान}} {{IPA|sa|stʰaːnɐ|}}), 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 {{PIE|*sthāna-}},{{cite book |last=Macdonell |first=A. A. |url=https://dsal.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/app/macdonell_query.py? |title=A practical Sanskrit dictionary with transliteration, accentuation, and etymological analysis throughout |date=1929 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=London |page=365 |author-link=Arthur Anthony Macdonell |access-date=1 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221016144545/https://dsal.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/app/macdonell_query.py?page=365 |archive-date=16 October 2022 |url-status=live}} partly loaned into Ancient Greek as {{langx|grc|-στήνη}} ({{transliteration|grc|-stēnē}}).

Countries

{{cleanup lang|date=January 2024}}

Countries adopting the -stan suffix in both English and these countries' national languages include:

  • {{Flag|Afghanistan}} - {{langx|ps|افغانستان|translit=Afġānistān}}; {{langx|prs|افغانستان|translit=Afğânestân}}
  • {{Flag|Kazakhstan}} - {{langx|kk|Қазақстан|translit=Qazaqstan}}
  • {{Flag|Kyrgyzstan}} - {{langx|ky|Кыргызстан|translit=Kyrgyzstan}}
  • {{Flag|Pakistan}} - {{langx|ur|پاکستان|translit=Pākistān}}
  • {{Flag|Tajikistan}} - {{langx|tg|Тоҷикистон|translit=Tojikiston}}
  • {{Flag|Turkmenistan}} - {{langx|tk|Türkmenistan}}
  • {{Flag|Uzbekistan}} - {{langx|uz|Ўзбекистон|translit=Oʻzbekiston}}
  • {{Flag|India}} - {{langx|hi|हिन्दुस्तान|translit=Hindustān}} (informal name in the Hindustani language)
  • {{Flag|Armenia}} - {{langx|hy|Հայաստան|translit=Hayâstān}} (Armenian name)

Some of these nations were also known with the Latinate suffix {{linktext|-ia|lang=en}} during their time as Soviet republics: Turkmenistan was frequently Turkmenia, Kyrgyzstan often Kirghizia, and even Uzbekistan and Tajikistan were very occasionally Uzbekia and Tajikia.{{cite web |publisher=Google Ngram |url=https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=Uzbekia,%20Kirgizia,%20Turkmenia,%20Tajikia&year_start=1900&year_end=2100&corpus=0&smoothing=2&case_insensitive=on&direct_url=t1%3B%2CUzbekia%3B%2Cc0%3B.t4%3B%2CKirgizia%3B%2Cc0%3B%2Cs0%3B%3BKirgizia%3B%2Cc0%3B%3BKIRGIZIA%3B%2Cc0%3B.t4%3B%2CTurkmenia%3B%2Cc0%3B%2Cs0%3B%3BTurkmenia%3B%2Cc0%3B%3BTURKMENIA%3B%2Cc0#t1%3B%2CUzbekia%3B%2Cc0%3B.t4%3B%2CKirgizia%3B%2Cc0%3B%2Cs0%3B%3BKirgizia%3B%2Cc0%3B%3BKIRGIZIA%3B%2Cc0%3B.t4%3B%2CTurkmenia%3B%2Cc1%3B%2Cs0%3B%3BTurkmenia%3B%2Cc0%3B%3BTURKMENIA%3B%2Cc0 |title=Uzbekia, Kirgizia, Turkmenia, Tajikia |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410094017/https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=Uzbekia,%20Kirgizia,%20Turkmenia,%20Tajikia&year_start=1900&year_end=2100&corpus=0&smoothing=2&case_insensitive=on&direct_url=t1%3B%2CUzbekia%3B%2Cc0%3B.t4%3B%2CKirgizia%3B%2Cc0%3B%2Cs0%3B%3BKirgizia%3B%2Cc0%3B%3BKIRGIZIA%3B%2Cc0%3B.t4%3B%2CTurkmenia%3B%2Cc0%3B%2Cs0%3B%3BTurkmenia%3B%2Cc0%3B%3BTURKMENIA%3B%2Cc0#t1%3B%2CUzbekia%3B%2Cc0%3B.t4%3B%2CKirgizia%3B%2Cc0%3B%2Cs0%3B%3BKirgizia%3B%2Cc0%3B%3BKIRGIZIA%3B%2Cc0%3B.t4%3B%2CTurkmenia%3B%2Cc1%3B%2Cs0%3B%3BTurkmenia%3B%2Cc0%3B%3BTURKMENIA%3B%2Cc0 |archive-date=10 April 2023}}{{cite book |last=Becker |first=Seymour |title=Russia's Protectorates in Central Asia: Bukhara and Khiva, 1865–1924 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Rn9_AgAAQBAJ&pg=PT553 |year=2004 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=1-134-33582-2 |page=553 |quote=As early as June 1920, Lenin had toyed with the idea of dividing Russian Turkestan into three national regions: Uzbekia, Kirgizia and Turkmenia.}} 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 =

class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center;"
English NamePersian name

!Sanskrit

name

! Turkish name

Armenian nameAzerbaijani nameKazakh nameTurkmen nameTatar nameUyghur nameBashkir nameHindustani name

!Uzbek name

{{Flag|Armenia}}{{transliteration|fa|Armanestân}} – {{lang|fa|ارمنستان}}

|Armānistān – अरमनिस्तान्

{{lang|tr|Ermenistan}}{{transliteration|hy|Hayastan}} – {{lang|hy|Հայաստան}} (native term: {{transliteration|hy|Hayk'}} – {{lang|hy|Հայք}}){{lang|az|Ermənistan}}{{N/A}}{{lang|tk|Ermenistan}}{{transliteration|tt|Ärmänstan}} – {{lang|tt|Әрмәнстан}}{{n/a}}{{transliteration|tt|Ärmänstan}} – {{lang|ba|Әрмәнстан}}{{transliteration|hi|Armanistān}} – {{lang|hi|अर्मनिस्तान}} – {{lang|ur|ارمنستان}}{{transliteration|uz|Armaniston}} - {{lang|uz|Арманистон}}
{{Flag|Bulgaria}}{{transliteration|fa|Bulgharestân}} – {{lang|fa|بلغارستان}}

|Bölgārestān – बोलगारेस्तान्

{{lang|tr|Bulgaristan}}{{N/A}}{{lang|az|Bolqarıstan}}{{N/A}}{{N/A}}{{transliteration|tt|Bolğarstan}} – {{lang|tt|Болгарстан}}{{n/a}}{{transliteration|ba|Bolğarstan}} – {{lang|ba|Болғарстан}}{{transliteration|hi|Bulġaristān}} – {{lang|hi|बुल्ग़रिस्तान}} – {{lang|ur|بلغارستان}}

|{{n/a}}

{{Flag|China}}{{n/a}}

|Sènāhstān – सेनाहस्तान्

{{n/a}}{{transliteration|hy|Čʿinastan}} – {{lang|hy|Չինաստան}}{{N/A}}{{N/A}}{{N/A}}{{n/a}}{{n/a}}{{n/a}}{{n/a}}

|{{n/a}}

{{Flag|Croatia}}{{n/a}}

|–

{{lang|tr|Hırvatistan}}{{N/A}}{{N/A}}{{N/A}}{{N/A}}-
(alternative {{transliteration|tt|Xırwatstan}} – {{lang|tt|Хырватстан}})		{{N/A}}{{transliteration|ba|Xırwatstan}} – {{lang|ba|Хыруатстан}}{{transliteration|hi|K͟Hirvatistān}} – {{lang|hi|ख़िरवतिस्तान}} – {{lang|ur|خروتستان}}

|{{n/a}}

{{Flag|England}}{{transliteration|hy|Engelestân}} – {{lang|fa|انگلستان}}

|Angârêzstān – अङ्गरेजस्तान्

| {{n/a}}

| {{n/a}}

| {{n/a}}

| {{n/a}}

| {{n/a}}

| {{n/a}}

| {{n/a}}

| {{n/a}}

| {{transliteration|hi|Iṅglistān}} – {{lang|hi|इङ्ग्लिस्तान}} - {{lang|ur|ان٘گلستان}}

| {{n/a}}

{{Flag|Ethiopian Empire}}

({{Flag|Ethiopia}} and {{Flag|Eritrea}})

|{{N/A}}

|–

| -
(formerly {{lang|tr|Habeşistan}})

| -
(formerly {{transliteration|hy|Habešstan}} – {{lang|hy|Հաբեշստան}})

| -
(formerly {{lang|az|Həbəşistan}})

| {{N/A}}

| {{N/A}}

| -
(formerly {{transliteration|tt|Xäbäşstan}} – {{lang|tt|Хәбәшстан}})

| -
(formerly {{transliteration|ug|Hebeshistan}} –

{{lang|ug|ھەبەشىستان}})

| -
(formerly {{transliteration|ba|Xäbäşstan}} – {{lang|ba|Хәбәшстан}})

| {{transliteration|hi|Habśistān}} – {{lang|hi|हब्शिस्तान}} – {{lang|ur|حبشستان}}

| -
(formerly {{transliteration|uz|Habashiston}} - {{lang|uz|Ҳабашистон}})

{{Flag|Georgia}}{{transliteration|fa|Gorjestân}} – {{lang|fa|گرجستان}}

|–

{{lang|tr|Gürcistan}}{{transliteration|hy|Vrastan}} – {{lang|hy|Վրաստան}} (native term: {{transliteration|hy|Virk'}} – {{lang|hy|Վիրք}}){{lang|az|Gürcüstan}}{{N/A}}{{N/A}}{{transliteration|tt|Görcistan}} – {{lang|tt|Гөрҗистан}}{{N/A}}{{transliteration|ba|Görjöstan}} – {{lang|ba|Гөржөстан}}{{transliteration|hi|Gurjistān}} – {{lang|hi|गुर्जिस्तान}} – {{lang|ur|گرجستان}}{{transliteration|uz|Gurjiston}} - {{lang|uz|Гуржистон}}
{{Flag|Greece}}{{n/a}}

|Yāvanstān – यावनस्तान्

{{lang|tr|Yunânıstan}}{{transliteration|hy|Hunastan}} – {{lang|hy|Հունաստան}}{{lang|az|Yunânıstan}}{{N/A}}{{N/A}}{{transliteration|tt|Yunanstan}} – {{lang|tt|Юнанстан}}{{N/A}}{{transliteration|ba|Yunanstan}} – {{lang|ba|Юнанстан}}{{N/A}}

| {{transliteration|uz|Yunoniston}} - {{lang|uz|Юнонистон}}

{{Flag|Hungary}}{{transliteration|fa|Majârestân}} – {{lang|fa|مجارستان}}

|Māhyūrstān – मह्युरस्तान्

{{lang|tr|Macârıstan}}{{N/A}}{{lang|az|Macârıstan}}{{transliteration|kk|Majarstan}} – {{lang|kk|Мажарстан}}{{lang|tk|Majarystan}}{{transliteration|tt|Macarstan}} – {{lang|tt|Маҗарстан}}{{N/A}}{{lang|ba|Мажарстан}}{{transliteration|hi|Majāristān}} – {{lang|hi|मजारिस्तान}} – {{lang|ur|مجارستان}}{{transliteration|uz|Mojariston}} - {{lang|uz|Можаристон}}
{{Flag|India}}{{transliteration|fa|Hendostân}} – {{lang|fa|هندوستان}}

|Hindustan –

हिन्दुस्तान्

| {{lang|tr|Hindistan}}

{{transliteration|hy|Hndkastan}} – {{lang|hy|Հնդկաստան}}{{lang|az|Hindistan}}{{transliteration|kk|Ündıstan}} – {{lang|kk|Үндістан}}{{lang|tk|Hindistan}}{{transliteration|tt|Hindstan}} – {{lang|tt|Һиндстан}}{{transliteration|ug|Hindustan}} – {{lang|ug|ھىندىستان}}{{transliteration|ba|Hindostan}} – {{lang|ba|Һиндостан}}{{transliteration|hi|Hindustān}} – {{lang|hi|हिन्दुस्तान}} – {{lang|ur|ہِنْدُوْسْتان}}{{transliteration|uz|Hindiston}} - {{lang|uz|Ҳиндистон}}
{{Flag|Mongolia}}{{transliteration|fa|Mogholestân}} – {{lang|fa|مغولستان}}

|Mangōlastān – मंगोलास्तान्

{{lang|tr|Moğolistan}}{{N/A}}{{N/A}}{{N/A}}{{N/A}}{{N/A}}{{transliteration|ba|Mağulstan}} – {{lang|ba|Мағулстан}}{{transliteration|hi|Maṅgōlistān}} – {{lang|hi|मङ्गोलिस्तान}} – {{lang|ur|من٘گولستان}}{{transliteration|uz|Moʻgʻuliston}} - {{lang|uz|Мўғулистон}}
{{Flag|Poland}}{{transliteration|fa|Lahestân}} – {{lang|fa|لهستان}}

|Léchîstān – लेचिस्तान्

-
(formerly {{lang|tr|Lehistan}})		{{transliteration|hy|Lehastan}} – {{lang|hy|Լեհաստան}}{{N/A}}{{N/A}}{{N/A}}{{transliteration|tt|Läxstan}} – {{lang|tt|Ләхстан}}{{transliteration|ug|Lehistan}} – {{lang|ug|لەھىستان}}{{transliteration|ba|Lähstan}} – {{lang|ba|Ләhстан}}{{transliteration|hi|Lahistān}} – {{lang|hi|लहिस्तान}} – {{lang|ur|لہستان}}

|{{n/a}}

{{Flag|Russia}}{{N/A}}

|–

{{N/A}}{{transliteration|hy|Ṙusastan}} – {{lang|hy|Ռուսաստան}}{{N/A}}{{N/A}}{{N/A}}{{N/A}}{{N/A}}{{N/A}}{{N/A}}

|{{n/a}}

{{Flag|Saudi Arabia}}{{transliteration|fa|'Arabestân-e Sa'udi}} – {{lang|fa|عربستان سعودی}}

|'Arabèstān Sa'udî – अरबिस्तान् साउदी

{{lang|tr|Suudi Arabistan}}{{N/A}}{{lang|az|Səudiyyə Ərəbistanı}}{{N/A}}{{lang|tk|Saud Arabystany}}{{transliteration|tt|Sögüd Gäräbstanı}} – {{lang|tt|Согуд Гарәбстаны}}{{transliteration|ug|Se'udi Erebistan}} – {{lang|ug|سەئۇدى ئەرەبىستان}}{{transliteration|tt|Säğüd Ğäräbstanï}} – {{lang|ba|Сәғүд Ғәрәбстаны}}{{N/A}}{{transliteration|uz|Saudiya Arabistoni}} - {{lang|uz|Саудия Арабистони}}
{{Flag|Serbia}}{{transliteration|fa|Serbestân}} – {{lang|fa|صربستان}}

|Srbèndastān – सृबिन्दस्तान्

{{lang|tr|Sırbistan}}{{N/A}}{{N/A}}{{N/A}}{{N/A}}-
(alternative {{transliteration|tt|Sırbstan}} – {{lang|tt|Сырбстан}})		{{N/A}}{{transliteration|ba|Sırbstan}} – {{lang|ba|Сырбстан}}{{transliteration|hi|Sarbistān}} – {{lang|hi|सर्बिस्तान}} – {{lang|ur|صربستان}}

|{{n/a}}

Administrative divisions

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

class="wikitable sortable"
Country & first level of divisionCountry subdivision name
Provinces of AfghanistanNuristan
Districts of AzerbaijanGobustan
States of IndiaRajasthanThe suffix -sthan is through Indic, not Iranic.
Provinces of IranGolestan, Khuzestan, Kurdistan, Lorestan, Sistan, Baluchestan
Regions of KazakhstanTurkistan
Provinces of PakistanBalochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan
Republics of RussiaBashkortostan, Dagestan, Tatarstan
Regions of UzbekistanKarakalpakstan

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 =

{{columns-list|colwidth=20em|

}}

{{notelist|||refs=

{{efn|name=var|Various places share this name.}}

}}

= In Armenia =

{{columns-list|colwidth=20em|

}}

= In India =

{{columns-list|colwidth=20em|

}}

= In Iran =

{{columns-list|colwidth=20em|

}}

{{notelist|||refs=

{{efn|name=var_Iran|Various places share this name.}}

{{efn|name=Shah|In the Persian language, Shahrestan is also a common noun that means "county". It is in the names of the {{nobr|counties of Iran}}.}}

}}

Dehestan is the name of an administrative division in Iran.

= In Pakistan =

{{columns-list|colwidth=20em|

}}

= In Tajikistan =

{{columns-list|colwidth=20em|

}}

= In other countries =

{{columns-list|colwidth=20em|

}}

Regions

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.{{cite web |url=https://www.sabrangindia.in/article/turmoil-north-east-demand-bangalistan |title=Turmoil in the North East: The demand for Bangalistan |date=28 January 2020 |work=SabrangIndia |language=en |access-date=16 April 2020 |archive-date=28 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200128134544/https://www.sabrangindia.in/article/turmoil-north-east-demand-bangalistan |url-status=live}}
  • Khalistan – a proposed country for the Sikh people.
  • Maronistan – a proposed name for Maronite state in Lebanon during the Lebanese Civil War.{{cite news |url=http://archive.spectator.co.uk/article/15th-july-1978/9/lebanese-solution |title=Lebanese solution " 15 Jul 1978 " The Spectator Archive |work=The Spectator Archive |access-date=19 August 2018 |archive-date=20 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180820005719/http://archive.spectator.co.uk/article/15th-july-1978/9/lebanese-solution |url-status=live}}
  • 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

{{More citations needed|section|date=July 2024}}

  • 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 comic book series, which was ruled by Saddam Shahame, a parody of Saddam Hussein, 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
  • 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{{cite web |url=https://mw.lojban.org/papri/Lojbanistan |title=Lojbnaistan |date=4 November 2013 |work=lojban wiki |access-date=30 March 2017 |archive-date=31 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170331030632/https://mw.lojban.org/papri/Lojbanistan |url-status=live}}{{cite book |last=Cowan |first=John Waldemar |title=The Complete Lojban Language |chapter-url=http://www.lojban.org/publications/reference_grammar/chapter1.html |edition=First |year=1997 |publisher=The Logical Language Group |location=Fairfax, VA, US |language=en |isbn=0-9660283-0-9 |page=3 |chapter=1 |access-date=30 March 2017 |archive-date=2 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170402142427/http://www.lojban.org/publications/reference_grammar/chapter1.html |url-status=live}}
  • 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{{cite web |url=https://m.imdb.com/title/tt4136014/ |title=Stanistan (TV Movie 2015) - IMDb |work=IMDb}} 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){{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/games/2019/may/31/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-reboot-controversy-activision |title=Call of Duty: Modern Warfare returns to tread a moral minefield |last=Stuart |first=Keith |date=31 May 2019 |work=The Guardian |access-date=25 September 2019 |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=25 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190925003729/https://www.theguardian.com/games/2019/may/31/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-reboot-controversy-activision |url-status=live}}
  • 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{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/bombcanadaotheru0000alla |url-access=registration |quote=soviet%20canuckistan%20arab%20canadians. |title=Bomb Canada: And Other Unkind Remarks in the American Media |last=Allan |first=Chantal |date=2009 |publisher=Athabasca University Press |isbn=978-1-897425-49-7 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/bombcanadaotheru0000alla/page/84 84]–85 |language=en}}
  • 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{{cite news |url=https://visao.sapo.pt/atualidade/politica/2019-10-06-cavaquistao-continua-irredutivel-e-a-votar-laranja/ |title=Cavaquistão continua irredutível e a votar laranja ("Cavaquistan remains unyielding and voting orange") |language=pt |date=6 October 2019 |work=Visão |access-date=26 August 2020 |archive-date=3 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201003182449/https://visao.sapo.pt/atualidade/politica/2019-10-06-cavaquistao-continua-irredutivel-e-a-votar-laranja/ |url-status=live}}); intended pun with Kazakhstan (Cazaquistão in Portuguese{{cite book |author=Carla Fernandes |title=Multimodality and Performance |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qOX6DAAAQBAJ&q=cavaquist%C3%A3o+cavaquistan&pg=PA27 |date=2016 |publisher=Cambridge Scholars Publishing |isbn=978-1-4438-9465-4 |page=27 |access-date=1 October 2020 |archive-date=10 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410094013/https://books.google.com/books?id=qOX6DAAAQBAJ&q=cavaquist%C3%A3o+cavaquistan&pg=PA27 |url-status=live}})
  • Dalitstan.org – a Dalit advocacy website active until mid-2006,{{cite book |author=Dibyesh Anand |title=Hindu Nationalism in India and the Politics of Fear |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lbpfAQAAQBAJ&pg=PT34 |date=15 October 2011 |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |isbn=978-0-230-36263-5 |pages=34–}} one of 18 websites that were blocked by the Indian government to check for hate messages following the 2006 Mumbai train bombings.{{cite news |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2006-07-19/india/27816956_1_govt-blocks-check-terror-websites |title=Govt blocks 18 sites to check hate messages |date=19 July 2006 |work=The Times of India |access-date=15 December 2015 |archive-date=27 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130527095335/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2006-07-19/india/27816956_1_govt-blocks-check-terror-websites}}
  • 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{{cite web |title=The Ruler of Orbánistan |url=https://www.aspen.review/article/2017/the-ruler-of-orbanistan/ |access-date=13 March 2022 |work=Aspen Institute Central Europe |language=cs |archive-date=13 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220813060919/https://www.aspen.review/article/2017/the-ruler-of-orbanistan/ |url-status=live}}
  • 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

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Notes

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References

{{reflist|refs=

{{cite book |last=Pizza |first=Murphy |date=2009 |contribution=Schism as midwife: how conflict aided the birth of a contemporary Pagan community |editor-last=Lewis |editor-first=James R. |editor-link=James R. Lewis (scholar) |editor2-last=Lewis |editor2-first=Sarah M. |title=Sacred schisms: how religions divide |location=Cambridge |publisher=Cambridge University Press |pages=249–261 |isbn=978-0-511-58071-0 |url=http://81.70.242.211/eab/manual/Publisher/Cambridge%20University%20Press%20www.cambridge.org/sacred%20schisms%20how%20religions%20divide%209780521881470%2049080%20%5B351%5D.pdf#page=261 |access-date=25 May 2011 |quote=[...] the Pagan community of the Minnesota Twin Cities, otherwise known by members as 'Paganistan.' |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810234002/http://81.70.242.211/eab/manual/Publisher/Cambridge%20University%20Press%20www.cambridge.org/sacred%20schisms%20how%20religions%20divide%209780521881470%2049080%20%5B351%5D.pdf#page=261 |archive-date=10 August 2011}}

{{citation |last=Hayyim |first=Sulayman |title=New Persian-English Dictionary |chapter-url=https://dsal.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/app/steingass_query.py?qs=%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%86&searchhws=yes |chapter=ستان |year=1892 |page=30 |volume=2 |location=Tehran |publisher=Librairie imprimerie Béroukhim |access-date=25 October 2020 |archive-date=28 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028212228/https://dsal.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/app/steingass_query.py?qs=%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%86&searchhws=yes |url-status=live}} Quote= ستان (p. V2-0030) ستان (۲) Suffix meaning 'a place abounding in'. Ex. گلستان a flower or rose-garden. Syn. زار See گازار Note. This suffix is pronounced stan or setan after a vowel, as in بوستان boostan, a garden, and هندوستان hendoostan, India; and estan after a consonant. Ex. گلستان golestan, and ترکستان torkestan. However, for poetic license, after a consonant also, it may be pronounced setan. Ex. گلستان golsetan

{{citation |last=Steingass |first=Francis Joseph |title=A Comprehensive Persian-English Dictionary |chapter-url=https://dsal.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/app/hayyim_query.py?qs=%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%86&searchhws=yes |chapter=ستان |page=655 |quote=stān (after a vowel), istān (after a consonant), Place where anything abounds, as ḵẖurmāstān, A palm-grove, gulistān, A flower-garden, &c. |access-date=25 October 2020 |archive-date=28 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028214620/https://dsal.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/app/hayyim_query.py?qs=%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%86&searchhws=yes |url-status=live}}

}}

Sources

  • {{cite book |title=Sasanian Persia: The Rise and Fall of an Empire |year=2014 |publisher=I.B.Tauris |last=Daryaee |first=Touraj |author-link=Touraj Daryaee |pages=1–240 |isbn=978-0-85771-666-8 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LU0BAwAAQBAJ}}
  • {{EI3 |last=Ghereghlou |first=Kioumars |title=Bādūsbānids |year=2018 |url=https://referenceworks.brillonline.com/entries/encyclopaedia-of-islam-3/badusbanids-COM_25087?s.num=3&s.f.s2_parent=s.f.book.encyclopaedia-of-islam-3&s.q=Gilan}}

Further reading

  • Maciuszak, Kinga. [http://info.filg.uj.edu.pl/zhjij/sec/store/sec-13.pdf#page=119 The Persian Suffix -(e)stān 'The Land Of'] Studia Etymologica Cracoviensia 13 (2008): 119–140.

External links

  • {{OEtymD|-stan}}
  • {{Wiktionary-inline|-stan}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stan}}

Category:Suffixes

Category:Place name element etymologies

Category:Persian words and phrases

Category:Bengali words and phrases

Category:English suffixes

Category:Nepali words and phrases