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Icelandic exonyms

Exonym nouns in Icelandic language


Exonym nouns in Icelandic language

The following is a list of Icelandic exonyms, that is to say names for places in Icelandic that have been adapted to Icelandic spelling rules, translated into Icelandic, or Old Norse exonyms surviving in Icelandic. Commonly pronunciation is close to in English (or native), even though not stated below, but also commonly completely different, more common if names look very different or for European/Nordic places.

LanguageNative nameIcelandic exonymAlbania AlbaníaAfghanistan AfganistanAlgeria AlsírArmenia ArmeníaAngola AngólaArgentina ArgentínaAustria AusturríkiAustralia ÁstralíaAzerbaijan AserbaídsjanThe Bahamas BahamaeyjarBelarus Hvíta-RússlandBelize BelísBhutan BútanBolivia BólivíaBosnia and Herzegovina BosníaBotswana BotsvanaBrazil BrasilíaBurma MjanmarBurundi BúrúndíCameroon KamerúnCanada KanadaCentral African Republic Mið-AfríkulýðveldiðChile SíleChina KínaMacau MakaóTaiwan FormósaColombia KólumbíaCook Islands CookseyjarCyprus KýpurCzech Republic TékklandDenmark DanmörkDominican Republic Dóminíska LýðveldiðEgypt EgyptalandEquatorial Guinea Miðbaugs-GíneaEthiopia EþíópíaFaroe Islands FæreyjarFinland FinnlandFrance FrakklandFrench Polynesia Franska PólýnesíaGhana GanaGeorgia GeorgíaGermany ÞýskalandGreece GrikklandGuinea GíneaGuatemala GvatemalaGuinea-Bissau Gínea-BissáHungary UngverjalandIndia IndlandIndonesia IndónesíaIran ÍranIraq ÍrakIreland ÍrlandIsrael ÍsraelItaly ÍtalíaJapan JapanKenya KenýaLatvia LettlandLebanon LíbanonLiberia LíberíaLibya LíbýaLithuania LitháenMadagascar MadagaskarMalawi MalavíMalaysia MalasíaMali MalíMarshall Islands MarshalleyjarMauritania MáritaníaMexico MexíkóMoldova MoldóvaMongolia MongólíaMontenegro SvartfjallalandMozambique MósambíkNorth Korea Norður-KóreaNepal NepalThe Netherlands HollandNicaragua NíkaragvaNiger NígerNigeria NígeríaNorway NoregurOman ÓmanParaguay ParagvæPeru PerúPhilippines FilippseyjarPoland PóllandCitiesVoivodeshipsPortugal PortúgalRomania RúmeníaRussia RússlandRwanda RúandaSamoa SamóaSaudi Arabia Sádí-ArabíaSerbia SerbíaSomalia SómalíaSouth Africa Suður-AfríkaSouth Korea Suður-KóreaSpain SpánnSri Lanka Srí LankaSudan SúdanSuriname SúrínamSweden SvíþjóðSwitzerland SvissSyria SýrlandTajikistan TadsjikistanTanzania TansaníaThailand TaílandTonga TongaTurkey TyrklandUkraine ÚkraínaUnited Arab Emirates Sameinuðu arabísku furstadæminUnited Kingdom BretlandUnited States BandaríkinUruguay ÚrúgvæUzbekistan ÚsbekistanVatican City Vatíkanið, Páfagarður, or *Vatíkanborg*Venezuela VenesúelaVietnam VíetnamZambia SambíaLanguageNative nameIcelandic exonym
AlbanianTiranëTirana
Persian – PashtoKābul – KabəlKabúl
ArabicAl-Ŷazā'irAlgeirsborg
ArmenianYerevanJerevan
PortugueseLuandaLúanda
SpanishTierra del FuegoEldland
GermanWienVín or Vínarborg
EnglishNew South WalesNýja Suður-Wales
South AustraliaSuður-Ástralía
Western AustraliaVestur-Ástralía
Australian Capital TerritoryHöfuðborgarsvæði Ástralíu
Northern TerritoryNorður-svæðið
Christmas IslandJólaeyja
Cocos (Keeling) IslandsKókoseyjar
Norfolk IslandNorfolkeyjar
Heard Island and McDonald IslandsHeard og McDonaldseyjar
AzerbaijaniBakıBakú
EnglishNassauNassá
BelarusianPolotskPalteskja (historical), Hvíta-Rússland (historical), Belarús (current)
EnglishBelmopanBelmópan
DzongkhaThimphuTimfú
Spanish – QuechuaSucre – ChuqichakaSúkre
BosnianSarajevoSarajevó
English – TswanaGaboroneGaboróne
PortugueseBrasíliaBrasilía
BurmeseYangonJangún
FrenchBujumburaBújúmbúra
French – EnglishDoualaDóúala
YaoundéJánde
English – FrenchTorontoTorontó
FrenchBanguiBangví
SpanishRapa NuiPáskaeyja
SantiagoSantíagó
Mandarin (pinyin Romanization)BeijingPeking (sometimes written and read Beijing; Peking reads a bit differently)
ShanghaiSjanghæ (reads like in English)
TianjinTientsin
QingdaoTsingtao
NanjingNanking
XiamenAmoy
GuilinKweilin
GuangzhouKanton
Portuguese – CantoneseMacauMakaó
Mandarin (pinyin Romanization)TáiběiTaípei, Tæpei
SpanishBogotáBógóta
Māori – EnglishAvaruaAvarúa
Greek – TurkishLefkosía – LefkoşaNikósía
CzechPlzeňPilsen
PrahaPrag
DanishAalborgÁlaborg
Aarhusauthor1=Svavar Sigmundssontitle=Af hverju eru erlend borgarnöfn þýdd eða þeim breytt í íslensku máli, til dæmis Lundúnir, Kaupmannahöfn, o.s.frv.?url=https://www.visindavefur.is/svar.php?id=48711access-date=5 April 2024work=Icelandic Web of Sciencepublisher=University of Icelanddate=11 February 2009language=Icelandic}}
HelsingørHelsingjaeyri
FalsterFalstur
FredrikshavnFriðrikshöfn
FynFjón
HumlebækHumlabekk (little used)
JellingJalangur
JyllandJótland
København (Copenhagen)Kaupmannahöfn
LollandLáland
LæsøHlésey
OdenseÓðinsvé
RibeRípar
RingstedHringstað
RoskildeHróarskelda
SilkeborgSilkiborg
SjællandSjáland
SkagenSkaginn
SlagelseSlagleysa
SorøSórey
ViborgVébjörg
SpanishSanto DomingoSantó Dómingó
ArabicAl-IskandariyyaAlexandría
QāhirahKaíró
SuwaysSúes
French – SpanishMalaboMalabó
AmharicAdis AbäbaAddis Ababa
FaroeseBorðoyBorðey
EysturoyAusturey
FuglafjørðurFuglafjörður
FugloyFugley
GásadalurGæsadalur
KalsoyKarlsey
KirkjubøurKirkjubær
KlaksvíkKlakksvík
KollafjørðurKollafjörður
KunoyKonuey
MiðvágurMiðvogur
NólsoyNólsey
SandavágurSandavogur
SandoySandey
StreymoyStraumey
SuðuroySuðurey
SvínoySvíney
ToftirTóftir
TórshavnÞórshöfn
TvøroyriÞvereyri
VágarVogar, Vogey
VágurVogur
ViðoyViðey
Finnish – SwedishTurku – ÅboÁrbæ
FrenchBretagneBretanía (current), Bretonskagi, Litla-Bretland, Bertangaland (obsolete), Bretland (obsolete)
BourgogneBúrgund
CorseKorsíka
NantesNamsborg (obsolete)
NormandyNorðmandí (obsolete), Normandí (current)
ParisParís
PoitiersPeituborg
ReimsReimsborg
RouenRúðuborg
StrasbourgStrassborg
VersaillesVersalir
Tahitian – French'Enana māMarkesaseyjar
Tōtaiete māFélagseyjar
TahitiTahítí
Tūāmotu māLágeyjar (obsolete)
EnglishAccraAkkra
GeorgianTbi'lisiTíblisi (Tíflis in common parlance)
GermanBerlinBerlín
BavariaBæjaraland
BraunschweigBrúnsvík (obsolete)
BremenBrimar
FlensburgFlensborg
FrankfurtFrakkafurða (little used)
HamburgHamborg
HaddebyHeiðabær
HolsteinHoltsetaland
KielKíl
Köln (Cologne)Kolni (little used), Köln (current)
LübeckLýbika
OldenburgAldinborg
RostockRauðstokkur (obsolete)
SchleswigSlésvík
StralsundStræla
StuttgartStóðgarður (little used)
VerdenFerðuborg (obsolete)
GreekAthínaAþena
LímnosLemney
ThessaloníkiSaloníka (obsolete), Þessalónika (current)
FrenchConakryKónakrí
SpanishCiudad de GuatemalaGvatemalaborg
PortugueseBissauBissá (reads like in English)
HungarianBudapestBúdapest
Hindi – EnglishKolkataKalkútta (obsolete)
Naī Dillī – New DelhiNýja-Delí
IndonesianDKI JakartaDjakarta
PersianTehrānTeheran
Arabic – KurdishBaġdād – BexdaBagdað (or which reads almost the same)
IrishÁth Cliath/Dubhlinn (Dublin)Dyflinn(i)
Luimneach (Limerick)Hlymrek (obsolete)
Hebrew – ArabicYerushaláyim – al QudsJórsalaborg (obsolete), Jerúsalem (current)
Ḥeifa – ḤayfāHaífa
Tel Aviv-Yafo – Tal ʼAbībTel Avív
ItalianBariBár (obsolete)
FirenzeFlórens
GenovaGenúa
LuccaLukkuborg (obsolete)
MilanoMeilansborg (obsolete), Mílanó (current)
NapoliNapólí
RomaRóm, Rómaborg (both are commonly and, additionally Rómarborg, which is an incorrect spelling, with extra r before the ending -borg, which means city).
SalernoSalernisborg (rare)
TorinoTórínó
VeneziaFeneyjar
JapaneseKyōto-shiKýótó
TōkyōTókýó
English – SwahiliNairobiNaíróbí
LatvianRīgaRíga
KurzemeKúrland
DaugavaDvína
LivonijaLífland
LiepājaLíbá
Arabic – FrenchBayrūt – BeyrouthBeirút
EnglishMonroviaMonróvía
ArabicṬarābulusTrípólí
LithuanianVilniusVilníus
Malagasy – FrenchAntananarivoAntananarívó
EnglishLilongweLílongve
MalayKuala LumpurKúala Lúmpúr
French – BambaraBamako – BamakəBamakó
Tombouctou – TimbuktuTimbúktú
Marshallese – EnglishMajuroMajúró
Arabic – FrenchNouakchottNúaksjott
SpanishCiudad de MéxicoMexíkóborg
RomanianChișinăuKisínev
MongolianUlaanbaatarÚlaan Bator
PortugueseMaputoMapútó
KoreanP'yŏngyangPjongjang
NepaliKāţhmāņđauKatmandú
DutchAmsterdamAmsturdammur (little used), Erilstífla (little used)
Den Haag or ´s GravenhageHaag
UtrechtTrekt (little used)
ZuiderzeeSuðursjó (historical)
SpanishManaguaManagva
FrenchNiameyNíamey
English – YorùbáAbuja-AbùjáAbútja
Norwegian
AkershusAkurshús
ArendalArnardalur
Aust-AgderAustur-Agðir
BergenBjörgyn (obsolete), Björgvin (current)
BjørnøyaBjarnarey
BodøBoðvin
BærumBergheimur (obsolete)
DrammenDröfn (obsolete)
FinnmarkFinnmörk
GjøvikDjúpvík (historical)
HedmarkHeiðmörk
HordalandHörðaland
KarmøyKörmt (historical)
Møre og RomsdalMæri og Raumsdalur
Nord-Trøndelag, Sør-TrøndelagNorður-Þrændalög, Suður-Þrændalög
NordlandNorðurland
OsloKauphágur (historical), Ósló (current)
RogalandRygjafylki
SkienSkiða (obsolete)
Sogn og FjordaneSogn og Firðafylki
StavangerStafangur
TelemarkÞelamörk
TrondheimNiðarós (historical), Þrándheimur (current)
TønsbergTúnsberg (obsolete)
ØstfoldAustfold
ÅlesundÁlasund
ArabicMasqaṭMúskat
Spanish – GuaraníAsunciónAsúnsjón
SpanishLimaLíma
Tagalog – CebuanoMaynila – ManilaManíla
Polish
WrocławBreslá
KrakówKraká
WarszawaVarsjá
SzczecinStettín
SilesiaSlesía
KuyaviaKujavía
PomeraniaPommern
MałopolskaLitla-Pólland
WarmiaErmland
MasuriaMasúría
MazoviaMasóvía
SubcarpathiaNeðri-Karpatía
PortugueseLisboaLissabon
RomanianBucureștiBúkarest
ConstanțaKonstantía
RussianMuromMóramar (historical)
NovgorodHólmgarður, Nýi Garður, Nýborg
RostovRáðstofa
Sankt PeterburgSankti Pétursborg
SmolenskSmáleskja (historical)
Staraya LadogaAldeigjuborg (historical)
SuzdalSúrsdalar (historical)
Kinyarwanda – FrenchKigaliKígalí
SamoanApiaApía
ArabicMakkahMekka
RiyāḍRíad
SerbianBeogradBelgrad
Somali – ArabicMuqdisho – MaqadīshūMógadisjú
English – AfrikaansCape of Good HopeGóðrarvonarhöfði
Cape Town – KaapstadHöfðaborg
JohannesburgJóhannesarborg
PretoriaPretoría
KoreanSeoulSeúl
SpanishBarcelonaBarselóna
Sinhala – TamilSri Jayawardenapura-KotteSrí Jajevardenepúra
Arabic – EnglishKharṭūm – KhartoumKartúm
DutchParamariboParamaríbó
SwedishGöteborgGautaborg
HelsingborgHelsingjaborg
LundLundur
MalmöMálmhaugar (little used), Málmey
StockholmStokkhólmur
UppsalaUppsalir
German – FrenchBasel – BâleBoslaraborg (obsolete)
ArabicDimašqDamaskus
TajikDushanbeDúshanbe
SwahiliDodomaDódóma
ThaiKrung ThepBangkok
Tongan – EnglishNukuʻalofaNúkúalófa
TurkishİstanbulMikligarður (historical), Istanbúl (current)
UkrainianKyivKænugarður, Kyjív
ArabicAbū ZabīAbú Dabí
'AjmānAdsman
DubayyDúbaí
EnglishAberdeenApardjón (obsolete)
CanterburyKantaraborg
DoverDofrar (little used)
EdinburghEdinborg
YarmouthJárnamóða (little used)
CambridgeKambabryggja (little used)
LerwickLeirvík
LondonLundúnir (also used, but London more current)
SouthamptonSuðurhamtún (little used)
OxfordÖxnafurða (little used)
ScarboroughSkarðaborg (obsolete)
YorkJórvík
WalesValland (little used)
Isle of ManMön
EnglishCaliforniaKalifornía
FloridaFlórída
GeorgiaGeorgía
New YorkNýja-Jórvík (not in common use, a jocular term of academic pretension)
North CarolinaNorður-Karólína
North DakotaNorður-Dakóta
PennsylvaniaPennsylvanía
South CarolinaSuður-Karólína
South DakotaSuður-Dakóta
VirginiaVirginía
West VirginiaVestur-Virginía
SpanishMontevideoMontevídeó
UzbekToshkentTaskent
LatinStatus Civitatis VaticanaePáfagarður
SpanishCaracasKarakas
VietnameseHà NộiHanoí
Thành phố Hồ Chí MinhHo Chi Minh-borg, formerly Saígon
EnglishLusakaLúsaka

References

References

  1. (16 November 2022). "Belarús mun líklega ekki rústa framtíð íslenskunnar". [[Fréttablaðið]].
  2. (20 August 2008). "Af hverju tölum við um Peking en ekki Beijing?". Icelandic Web of Science.
  3. (11 February 2009). "Af hverju eru erlend borgarnöfn þýdd eða þeim breytt í íslensku máli, til dæmis Lundúnir, Kaupmannahöfn, o.s.frv.?". [[University of Iceland]].
  4. "Beygingarlýsing íslensks nútímamáls".
  5. (18 October 1948). "Erlend staðarheiti". Mánudagsblaðið.
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