So many places end with this suffix, and they all seem to have strong ties to Islam. I was just interested in what it means. Probably something as simple as 'land', but again what language? How badly do we mangle the suffix when it is translated into English?
2007-02-09 03:05:04 · 2 answers · asked by warped_factor_ten 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Other - Cultures & Groups
Congrats! istan really means place in urdu, hindi, sanskrit......
2007-02-09 03:10:45 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It means "land of " or "place of"
Example--Afghanistan means Land of the Afghan People.
Many languages have this, mine (Cherokee) included. Ours takes the form of -hi or -yi, same meaning as the -istan suffix.
Example--Tsalagiyi Ayeli means "Cherokee Nation." Tsalagiyi=Place of the Cherokee People, Ayeli=nation/central area
2007-02-09 11:34:50 · answer #2 · answered by Danagasta 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋