Contents

-stan

stan (Persian: ستان stân,^{[n 1]} estân or istân^{[n 2]}) has the meaning of "a place abounding in"^[1] or "a place where anything abounds" as a suffix.^[2] It is widely used by Iranian languages as well as the common Turkish languages (excluding Siberian Turkic) 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.^[3]

Etymology and cognates[edit]

This article may require copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone, or spelling. You can assist by editing it. (May 2024) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

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 rigestân (ریگستان) "place of sand, desert", golestân (گلستان) "place of flowers, garden", gurestân (گورستان) "graveyard, cemetery",^[4] Hendostân (هندوستان) "Land of the Indus (India)".^[5]

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 state, Polish stan (state), and with Sanskrit sthā́na (Devanagari: Sanskrit: स्थान [stʰaːnɐ]), meaning "the act of standing", from which many further meanings derive, including "place, location; abode, dwelling", and ultimately descends from Proto-Indo-Iranian *sthāna-,^[6] partly loaned into Ancient GreekasAncient Greek: -στήνη (-stēnē).

Countries[edit]

This article should specify the language of its non-English content, using {{lang}}, {{transliteration}} for transliterated languages, and {{IPA}} for phonetic transcriptions, with an appropriate ISO 639 code. Wikipedia's multilingual support templates may also be used. See why. (January 2024)

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

•  Afghanistan - افغانستان (Afghānistān)
•  Kazakhstan - Қазақстан (Qazaqstan)
•  Kyrgyzstan - Кыргызстан (Kyrgyzstan)
•  Pakistan - پاکستان (Pākistān)
•  Tajikistan - Тоҷикистон (Tojikiston)
•  Turkmenistan - Türkmenistan
•  Uzbekistan - Ўзбекистон (Oʻzbekiston)

Some of these nations were also known with the Latinate suffix -ia during their time as Soviet republics: Turkmenistan was frequently Turkmenia, Kyrgyzstan often Kirghizia, and even Uzbekistan and Tajikistan were very occasionally Uzbekia and Tajikia.^[7][8] In addition, the native name of ArmeniaisHayastan, hay being the endonym of Armenians. The largest -stan country by area is Kazakhstan.

Country names in various languages[edit]

English Name	Persian name	Turkish name	Armenian name	Azerbaijani name	Kazakh name	Turkmen name	Tatar name	Uyghur name	Bashkir name	Hindi name	Urdu name	Uzbek name
Armenia	Armanestân – ارمنستان	Ermenistan	Hayastan – Հայաստան (native term: Hayk' – Հայք)	Ermənistan	—	Ermenistan	Ärmänstan – Әрмәнстан	—	Ärmänstan – Әрмәнстан	Armanistān – अर्मनिस्तान	Armanistān – ارمنستان	Armaniston - Арманистон
Bulgaria	Bulgharestân – بلغارستان	Bulgaristan	—	Bolqarıstan	—	—	Bolğarstan – Болгарстан	—	Bolğarstan – Болғарстан	Bulġaristān – बुल्ग़रिस्तान	Bulġaristān – بلغارستان	—
China	—	—	Čʿinastan – Չինաստան	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Croatia	—	Hırvatistan	—	—	—	—	- (alternative Xırwatstan – Хырватстан)	—	Xırwatstan – Хыруатстан	K͟Hirvatistān – ख़िरवतिस्तान	K͟Hirvatistān – خروتستان	—
England	Engelestân – انگلستان	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	Iṅglistān – इङ्ग्लिस्तान	Iṅglistān – ان٘گلستان	—
Ethiopian Empire ( Ethiopia and  Eritrea)	—	- (formerly Habeşistan)	- (formerly Habešstan – Հաբեշստան)	- (formerly Həbəşistan)	—	—	- (formerly Xäbäşstan – Хәбәшстан)	- (formerly Hebeshistan – ھەبەشىستان)	- (formerly Xäbäşstan – Хәбәшстан)	Habśistān – हब्शिस्तान	H̤abśistān – حبشستان	- (formerly Habashiston - Ҳабашистон)
Georgia	Gorjestân – گرجستان	Gürcistan	Vrastan – Վրաստան (native term: Virk' – Վիրք)	Gürcüstan	—	—	Görcistan – Гөрҗистан	—	Görjöstan – Гөржөстан	Gurjistān – गुर्जिस्तान	Gurjistān – گرجستان	Gurjiston - Гуржистон
Greece	—	Yunânıstan	Hunastan – Հունաստան	Yunânıstan	—	—	Yunanstan – Юнанстан	—	Yunanstan – Юнанстан	—	—	Yunoniston - Юнонистон
Hungary	Majârestân – مجارستان	Macârıstan	—	Macârıstan	Majarstan – Мажарстан	Majarystan	Macarstan – Маҗарстан	—	Мажарстан – Мажарстан	Majāristān – मजारिस्तान	Majāristān – مجارستان	Mojariston - Можаристон
India	Hendostân – هندوستان	Hindistan	Hndkastan – Հնդկաստան	Hindistan	Ündıstan – Үндістан	Hindistan	Hindstan – Һиндстан	Hindustan – ھىندىستان	Hindostan – Һиндостан	Hindustān – हिन्दुस्तान	Hindustān – ہِنْدُوْسْتان	Hindiston - Ҳиндистон
Mongolia	Mogholestân – مغولستان	Moğolistan	—	—	—	—		—	Mağulstan – Мағулстан	Maṅgōlistān – मङ्गोलिस्तान	Maṅgōlistān – من٘گولستان	Moʻgʻuliston - Мўғулистон
Poland	Lahestân – لهستان	- (formerly Lehistan)	Lehastan – Լեհաստան	—	—	—	Läxstan – Ләхстан	Lehistan – لەھىستان	Lähstan – Ләhстан	Lahistān – लहिस्तान	Lahistān – لہستان	—
Russia	—	—	Ṙusastan – Ռուսաստան	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Saudi Arabia	'Arabestân-e Sa'udi – عربستان سعودی	Suudi Arabistan	—	Səudiyyə Ərəbistanı	—	Saud Arabystany	Sögüd Gäräbstanı – Согуд Гарәбстаны	Se'udi Erebistan – سەئۇدى ئەرەبىستان	Säğüd Ğäräbstanï – Сәғүд Ғәрәбстаны	—	—	Saudiya Arabistoni - Саудия Арабистони
Serbia	Serbestân – صربستان	Sırbistan	—	—	—	—	- (alternative Sırbstan – Сырбстан)	—	Sırbstan – Сырбстан	Sarbistān – सर्बिस्तान	S̤arbistān – صربستان	—

Administrative divisions[edit]

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

Administrative subdivisions[edit]

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[edit]

In Armenia[edit]

In India[edit]

In Iran[edit]

Dehestan is the name of an administrative division in Iran.

In Pakistan[edit]

In Tajikistan[edit]

In other countries[edit]

Regions[edit]

• Arabistan – the name of the Arabian Peninsula and other meanings
• Arbayistan – a late-antiquity Sasanian satrap
• Asal Hindustan – a name for the Kingdom of Nepal
• Asoristan – the province of Babylonia under the Sassanid Empire
• Azadistan – a short-lived state in the Iranian province of Azarbaijan under Mohammad Khiabani
• Bashkortostan – administrative division of Russia in eastern Europe
• Bashkurdistan – national-territorial autonomy, during the Russian Civil War
• Balawaristan – a revived historical name of Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan
• Balochistan/Baluchistan – a region in Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan
• Baltistan – a northern region in Pakistan
• Bantustan – an Apartheid-era South African and South West African black 'homeland' (the term coined by analogy)
• Cholistan Desert – a desert region in Punjab, Pakistan
• Dardistan – a region in northern PakistanofDardu speakers
• Dihistan – a Sassanian province
• East Pakistan – the historic name for pre-independence Bangladesh
• East Turkestan or Uyghuristan – a region dominated by Uyghurs, located in northwest China
• Gharchistan – a medieval region in Afghanistan
• Hindustan - Persian name for India, broadly the Indian subcontinent.
• Indostan – archaic usage in European languages for Hindustan.
• Iraqi Kurdistan – Kurdish-populated part of northern Iraq
• Kadagistan – Kadagistan was the name of an eastern Sasanian province in the region of Tokharistan (in what is now north-eastern Afghanistan).
• 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 exist
• Kurdistan – Kurdish region. See also Iranian Kurdistan, Iraqi Kurdistan, Syrian Kurdistan, and Turkish Kurdistan.
• Lezgistan – ethnolinguistic region in southern Dagestan and northern Azerbaijan
• North Waziristan – northern part of Waziristan region in Pakistan
• Pashtunistan – the area of Afghanistan and North-Western Pakistan historically inhabited by the Pashtun tribes
• Qabailistan – a region in western Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
• Quhistan – a region of medieval Persia, essentially the southern part of Greater Khorasan
• Registan – historic site in Samarkand, meaning "place of sand"
• Russian Turkestan – Turkestan in the Russian Empire, later Turkestan Autonomous SSR
• Sakastan or Sistan – a historical and geographical region in present-day eastern Iran (Sistan and Baluchestan Province) and southern Afghanistan
• Saraikistan – a region in the south-western part of Punjab, Pakistan, with a majority of Saraiki speakers
• South Waziristan – southern part of Waziristan region in Pakistan
• Talyshstan – ethnolinguistic region in the SE Caucasus and NW Iran
• Tatarstan – administrative division of Russia in eastern Europe
• Tokharistan, Tocharistan or Tukharistan, 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)
• Turgistan or Turestan – a Sasanian province
• Turkestan or Turkistan – ethnolinguistic region of Turkic peoples and languages, encompassing Central Asia, northwest China, parts of the Caucasus, and Asia Minor
• Uyghurstan, China, same as East Turkestan
• Waziristan – a region of northwest Pakistan

Historical regions[edit]

• 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[edit]

• Bangalistan – a proposed state in India.^[9]
• Khalistan – a proposed country for the Sikh people.
• Maronistan – a proposed name for Maronite state in Lebanon during the Lebanese Civil War.^[10]
• 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[edit]

• 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 DjinnistanbyKarl 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
• 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 RawlsinThe 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"
• Lojbanistan – the fictional country Lojbanists imagine themselves inhabiting^[11][12]
• 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.
• Serdaristan – a fictional country in Battlefield: Bad Company.
• Skandistan - a fictional country in western Russia in The Years of Rice and Salt
• Stanistan^[13] 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)^[14]
• 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[edit]

• 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^[15]
• Cavaquistan (CavaquistãoinPortuguese) – 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^[16]); intended pun with Kazakhstan (Cazaquistão in Portuguese^[17])
• Dalitstan.org – a Dalit advocacy website active until mid-2006,^[18] one of 18 websites that were blocked by the Indian government to check for hate messages following the 2006 Mumbai train bombings.^[19]
• Extremistan and Mediocristan – used by author Nassim Nicholas Taleb to illustrate concepts of black swan theoryinThe 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^[20]
• Paganistan – the pagan/neo-pagan community of Minneapolis-Saint PaulinMinnesota^[21]
• 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[edit]

Notes[edit]

References[edit]

Sources[edit]

• Daryaee, Touraj (2014). Sasanian Persia: The Rise and Fall of an Empire. I.B.Tauris. pp. 1–240. ISBN 978-0857716668.
• Ghereghlou, Kioumars (2018). "Bādūsbānids". In Fleet, Kate; Krämer, Gudrun; Matringe, Denis; Nawas, John; Rowson, Everett (eds.). Encyclopaedia of Islam (3rd ed.). Brill Online. ISSN 1873-9830.

Further reading[edit]

• Maciuszak, Kinga. The Persian Suffix -(e)stān 'The Land Of' Studia Etymologica Cracoviensia 13 (2008): 119–140.

External links[edit]

• Harper, Douglas. "-stan". Online Etymology Dictionary.
• The dictionary definition of -stan at Wiktionary