-stan

The suffix -stan (Persian: ـستان -stān) is Persian for "place of"^[1] or "country,",^[2] ultimately from Indo-Iranian -sthāna, cf. Indo-Aryan -sthāna (sanskrit : स्थान ) (pronounced [st̪ʰaːna]) suffix with a similar meaning. In Indo-Aryan languages, sthāna means "place", and is cognate to the Latin terms state and status (meaning "to stand").

The suffix also appears in the names of many regions, especially in Central and South Asia, areas where ancient Indo-Iranian peoples were established; in Indo-Iranian, however, it is also used more generally, as in Persian and Urdu rigestân (ریگستان) "place of sand, desert", Pakistan "land of the pure" and golestan (گلستان) "place of roses, rose garden", Hindi devasthan ("place of devas, temple"), etc. The suffix is of Indo-Iranian and ultimately Indo-European origin, with the Proto-Indo-European root being *stā- "stand", which is also the source of English stand, Latin stāre, and Greek histamai (ίσταμαι), all meaning "stand", as well as Pashto تون (tun, "habitat" or "homeland") and Russian стан (stan, meaning "settlement" or "semi-permanent camp"). In Polish, stan means "state" or "condition", while in Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian it translates as "apartment" in its modern usage, while its original meaning was "habitat". Also in Germanic languages, the root can be found in Stand ("place, location"), and in Stadt (German), stad/sted (Dutch/Scandinavian), stêd (West Frisian) and stead (English), all meaning "city". The suffix -stan is analogous to the suffix -land, present in many country and location names.

Countries

Sub-national units

Cities and counties

Ardestan, Iran
Chamestan, Iran
Dashtestan, Iran
Mehrestan, Iran
Shahrestan, Iran. Also Shahrestan is an equivalent for the word "county" in Persian language. For more details see Counties of Iran.
Shahristan, Afghanistan
Takestan, Iran
Tangestan, Iran
Turkistan, Kazakhstan

Regions

Balochistan – region in Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Baltistan – a northern region in Pakistan.
Bantustan – Apartheid-era South African black 'homelands'; the term is coined by an analogy
Cholistan Desert – a desert region in Pakistan
Dardistan – a region in northern Pakistan
Dashtestan – a region in Bushehr Province, Iran
East Pakistan – refers to the historic name for pre-independence Bangladesh
Frangistan – a term used by Muslims and Persians in particular, during the Middle Ages and later historical periods to refer to Western or Christian Europe.
Hazarastan – the Hazarajat, homeland of the Hazara people in central Afghanistan
Hindustan – land of Hindus. Today it refers to the Republic of India.
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
Kurdistan – Kurdish region
Larestan – a region in Bushehr Province, Iran – its center is Lar.
Lazistan – Persian name of "Lazica", an ancient Georgian monarchy in western Georgia.
Lezgistan – ethnolinguistic region in southern Dagestan and northern Azerbaijan
Moghulistan (Mughalistan) – a historical geographic unit in Central Asia that included parts of modern-day Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Xinjiang
North Waziristan – northern part of Waziristan region in Pakistan
Pashtunistan – the area of Afghanistan and North-Western Pakistan historically inhabited by the Pashtun tribes.
Registan – historic site in Samarkand, meaning "place of sand"
Russian Turkestan – Turkestan in the Russian Empire, later Turkestan Autonomous SSR
Sakastan – region of Afghanistan and Pakistan where Scythians or Sakas resided in the 2nd century BCE.
Saraikistan – a proposed region in southern Punjab province of Pakistan
Sistan – historical region of Iran and Afghanistan
South Waziristan – southern part of Waziristan region in Pakistan
Tabaristan – a historical region along the southern coasts of Caspian Sea
Talyshistan – ethnolinguistic region in the SE Caucasus and NW Iran
Tangestan – a region in Bushehr Province, Iran
Tocharistan, Tukharistan or Tokharistan, 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)
Turkestan or Turkistan – ethnolinguistic region of Turkic peoples and languages, encompassing Central Asia, northwest China, parts of the Caucasus and Asia Minor
Uyghurstan/East Turkestan – Region dominated by the Turkic-speaking Uyghur people, located in northwest China
Waziristan – a region of northwest Pakistan
Zabulistan – a historical region in the border area of today's Iran and Afghanistan, around the city Zabol

Proposed names

Jewistan – a name proposed by Professor Francis Boyle as a replacement name for the state of Israel.
Khalistan or Sikhistan – a proposed country created from areas within India with a Sikh majority.
Maronistan – a proposed name for Maronite state in Lebanon during the Lebanese Civil War.
Uyghuristan (variants East Turkestan & Uighurstan) – proposed ethnic name for Xinjiang, People's Republic of China

Fictional

Adjikistan – a fictional central Asian country in the videogame SOCOM U.S. Navy SEALs: Combined Assault.
Aldastan – a fictional central Asian country consisting of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, from Command & Conquer: Generals.
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".
Bazrakhistan – a fictional former Soviet republic in the movie Act of War (1998) starring Jack Scalia.
Belgistan – 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.
Derkaderkastan – fictional Middle Eastern country in Team America: World Police.
Firangistan or Firanja – name, derived from the Frankish people, for an Islamified Europe in the alternate history novel The Years of Rice and Salt.
Franistan – fictional country referred to in the television show I Love Lucy.
Helmajistan – fictional area from the anime Full Metal Panic!.
Howduyustan ("how do you stand?") – fictional country from Uncle Scrooge comic book stories.
Iranistan – an oriental region of Hyborea (Conan the Barbarian stories).
Istan – a fictional island state in the online role-playing game, Guild Wars Nightfall.
Kamistan (Islamic Republic of) – a fictional Middle Eastern country featured in the television series 24.
Kazinistan – 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.
Kerakhistan – a fictional Middle Eastern country featured in the tabletop miniature wargame Battlefield Evolution.
Kreplachistan – fictional country in the movie Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery.
Paristan or Pari-estan – a fairyland in the folklore of Middle East, South Asia and Central Asia.
Pokolistan – a fictional country in DC Comics.
Richistan – a fictional country in the book Richistan: A Journey Through the American Wealth Boom and the Lives of the New Rich by Robert Frank.
Serdaristan – fictional country in Battlefield: Bad Company.
Takistan – a fictional country in ARMA 2: Operation Arrowhead.
Trashcanistan – a fictional country mentioned by the hosts of "MXC".
Turaqistan – fictional country in the movie "War, Inc.".
Tyrgyzstan – fictional country in the BBC television drama The State Within.
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.
Bimaristan – a kind of hospital in medieval Persia and the medieval Islamic world.
Dondestan – an album by Robert Wyatt. Sounds like ¿Dónde están? (Where are they?) in Spanish.
Hamastan – a concept of a Palestinian Islamic government with Sharia as law.
Islamistan – means 'Land of Islam', used in various contexts.
Londonistan – the British/English capital of London was given this sobriquet by French counter-terrorism agents. Sometimes used derogatorily to refer to the large immigrant population in the city of London.
Muristan – a complex of streets and shops in the Christian Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem.
Paganistan – the pagan/neo-pagan community of Minneapolis-Saint Paul in Minnesota^[3]
Qabristan – a cemetery or graveyard. Qabr means grave.
Registan – a UNESCO World Heritage Site in central Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
Shahrestan (several meanings)
Skateistan – a skateboarding/educational organization based in Kabul, Afghanistan.

References

^ Johnson, Bridget. "'Stan Countries – What the Suffix 'Stan' Means". About.com. Retrieved October 9, 2012.
^ Harper, Douglas. "-stan". Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved January 18, 2013.
^ Pizza, Murphy (2009). "Schism as midwife: how conflict aided the birth of a contemporary Pagan community". In Lewis, James R.; Lewis, Sarah M. (eds.). Sacred schisms: how religions divide (PDF). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 249–261. ISBN 978-0-511-58071-0. Retrieved May 25, 2011. [...] the Pagan community of the Minnesota Twin Cities, otherwise known by members as 'Paganistan.' 'Paganistan' is the nickname, and now proud moniker of self-identification, of the uniquely innovative, eclectic, and feisty Neopagan community of the Twin Cities Metro area of Minnesota.

External links

Indo-European root *stā- (from the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition) Template:Wayback

[1] Johnson, Bridget. "'Stan Countries – What the Suffix 'Stan' Means". About.com. Retrieved October 9, 2012.

[2] Harper, Douglas. "-stan". Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved January 18, 2013.

[3] Pizza, Murphy (2009). "Schism as midwife: how conflict aided the birth of a contemporary Pagan community". In Lewis, James R.; Lewis, Sarah M. (eds.). Sacred schisms: how religions divide (PDF). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 249–261. ISBN 978-0-511-58071-0. Retrieved May 25, 2011. [...] the Pagan community of the Minnesota Twin Cities, otherwise known by members as 'Paganistan.' 'Paganistan' is the nickname, and now proud moniker of self-identification, of the uniquely innovative, eclectic, and feisty Neopagan community of the Twin Cities Metro area of Minnesota.

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