toponym
noun

- a place name, especially one derived from a topographical feature

Oxford Languages

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WORD ORIGIN

The word “toponym”, from the Greek tópos meaning “place” and ónoma meaning “name”. It literally translates to “place name”.

The term entered the English language in the late 19th to early 20th century, as geographical and linguistic studies became more formalized. It is commonly used in geography, linguistics, and cartography to refer to the names given to specific geographical features like cities, rivers, mountains, and other landmarks.

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CITY SIGNATURES
The Surprising Meanings of Famous City Names

- Beijing = formerly known as Peking, the name Beijing means "Northern Capital" in Mandarin. It was named the capital of China during the Ming dynasty in the 15th century, reflecting its political importance.

- Vienna = from the ancient Roman settlement Vindobona, established in the 1st century AD as a military camp. It evolved into a major cultural and political center over the centuries.

- Buenos Aires = the name means "Good Airs" or "Fair Winds" in Spanish. It was named by Spanish sailors in the 16th century in honour of the Virgin of Buen Ayre, the protector of sailors.

- Amsterdam = derived from the city’s origins as a dam on the Amstel River, first appearing in the 13th century. The name Amstelredamme evolved over time into Amsterdam, reflecting the city’s early reliance on waterways for trade and transportation.

- Sydney = named in 1788 after Lord Sydney, the British Home Secretary at the time, who supported the establishment of a British penal colony in Australia. The city grew rapidly during the 19th century, becoming an essential port and trade centre.

- Paris = from the Parisii, a Gallic tribe that settled the region around the 3rd century BC. The city was called Lutetia in Roman times but later reverted to Paris in honour of the original tribe.

- Los Angeles = the full original name given by Spanish settlers in 1781 was El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles de Porciúncula, meaning "The Town of Our Lady the Queen of Angels of Porciúncula". It was later shortened to Los Angeles.

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SYNONYMS

geographical/locale/locational/place/point/positional/site/spatial/spot/territorial/topographical, toponymic (address, appellation, designation, identifier, label, name, reference, tag, term)

address, endonym, exonym, geonym, locale, loconym, name (of a place), nomen loci, place, place name, point of reference (on the map), spot, TOPONYM

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SMUGGLE OWAD into a conversation today, say something like:

“The approximate English pronunciation of the Welsh TOPONYM Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch is ‘Llan-vire-pooll-guin-gill-go-ger-u-chwurn-drob-ooll-llantus-ilio-gogo-goch’ … it means ‘Saint Mary's Church in the hollow of the white hazel near the rapid whirlpool and the Church of Saint Tysilio of the red cave’ “

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