When traveling the world, have you ever wondered, “What do we call people or languages from this country in English?” For example, people (or language) from Japan are “Japanese,” from Korea are “Korean,” from France are “French”… Did you know that these adjectives describing people or things from a country are actually called “demonyms”?
This term is a relatively new word created by combining the Greek words “demos” (people) and “onym” (name), meaning “a name that refers to people from a certain place.” Simply put, it’s a word that refers to natives or inhabitants of a country or region.
While demonyms are words we use in our everyday lives, behind them lie rich stories of linguistics, history, and culture. Today, let’s dive deep into the world of demonyms to explore their fascination and importance.
The Diversity of Demonyms: Major Suffixes and Their Origins
As mentioned in the title, the demonym for Japanese people is “Japanese.” We would never call them “Japanian” or “Japanish.” Meanwhile, Egyptians are “Egyptian,” and Spanish people are “Spanish” – the “suffix” that follows the country name varies by country. While demonyms may seem random at first glance, they are actually a fascinating combination of history and linguistics. Let’s look at the major suffixes and their origins.
1. -an / -ian
Examples: American, Canadian, Brazilian, Australian, Russian
Origin and Characteristics
– Derived from the Latin suffix “-anus.”
– The most common suffix, applied to many countries.
– Especially used for countries in the New World (the Americas, Australia, etc.).
– A form that has been used since ancient Roman times, meaning “belonging to.”
Interesting Examples
– Martian: Can also be applied to planet names.
– Shakespearean: Can also be used with personal names.
2. -ish
Examples: British, Spanish, Turkish, Polish, Swedish
Origin and Characteristics
– Derived from the Old English suffix “-isc,” meaning “having the quality of.”
– Primarily used for older European countries.
– A form that began to be used in medieval times.
Interesting Examples
– Cornish (people from Cornwall): Used for regions as well as countries.
– Childish: Also used as a general adjective to describe qualities.
3. -ese
Examples: Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese, Portuguese
Origin and Characteristics
– Derived from the Italian suffix “-ese,” which originated from the Latin “-ensis” (meaning “from”).
– Mainly used for Asian countries, though there are exceptions (Portuguese).
– Entered English around the 16th century when Europeans began trading with East Asia.
Interesting Examples
– Journalese (newspaper language): Sometimes used to refer to language styles spoken in specific social communities, similar to industry terminology.
4. -i
Examples: Israeli, Iraqi, Pakistani, Bangladeshi
Origin and Characteristics
– Directly adopted into English from the Arabic genitive suffix “-i,” meaning “of.”
– Mainly used for countries in the Middle East and parts of Asia.
– Common in countries within the Islamic cultural sphere.
Interesting Examples
– Saudi (Saudi Arabian): “Saudi” in Saudi Arabia originally means “of the House of Saud.” The country was named Saudi Arabia because it was founded by the House of Saud on the Arabian Peninsula.
5. Other Unusual Forms
-er: New Yorker, Londoner
-in(e): Argentine, Levantine
– Mainly used to refer to residents of cities.
-anian: Guamanian
-nian: Panamanian
-ard: Savoyard
-ene: Nazarene
Additionally, there are many demonyms that don’t fit into the above categories, such as Thailand → Thai, Switzerland → Swiss, Netherlands → Dutch, Philippines → Filipino/Filipina.
Understanding the Patterns of Demonyms
Though demonyms may appear random at first glance, several factors influence their formation. Understanding these patterns can help predict new demonyms or infer the origins of existing ones.
1. Geographical Factors
– European countries often use “-ish” or “-ian”
Examples: British, Spanish, Italian, Russian
– Asian countries often use “-ese”
Examples: Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese
– Middle Eastern countries often use “-i”
Examples: Israeli, Iraqi, Kuwaiti
– African countries often use “-an”
Examples: Egyptian, Kenyan, Nigerian
2. Language Origins
– Country names derived from Latin or Greek often use “-ian”
Examples: Egyptian (Aegyptus), Grecian (Graecia)
– Regions influenced by Arabic often use “-i”
Examples: Omani, Yemeni, Saudi
3. Phonological Factors
The final sound of the country name can sometimes determine the suffix
Examples: Tunisia → Tunisian, Uganda → Ugandan, Croatia → Croatian
– Country names ending in “-land” often become “-ish” or “-ic”
Examples: England → English, Iceland → Icelandic
4. Historical Contact
– The timing and method of historical contact with English-speaking countries can determine the form of the demonym
Example: Trade relations between Japan or Portugal and Britain led to the use of “-ese”
– Many African and Asian countries use “-an” due to colonial influences
Examples: Indian, Malaysian, Zimbabwean
5. Custom and Tradition
– Demonyms established through years of usage may not always follow regular patterns
Examples: Dutch (for people from the Netherlands), Swiss (for people from Switzerland)
6. Formation of New States
– Newly independent states often tend to adopt “-an” or “-ian”
Examples: Estonian, Lithuanian (after independence in 1991)
Understanding these patterns makes the world of demonyms appear more systematic. However, language is a living entity. In many cases, while the above factors interact complexly to form demonyms, there are also many exceptions and special cases, which make the world of demonyms even more interesting.
Interesting Cases and Exceptions in Demonyms
The world of demonyms is full of interesting exceptions and special cases that don’t fit the general rules. By looking at these examples, we can gain a deeper understanding of the complexity and fascination of language.
1. Demonyms with Multiple Forms
Sometimes multiple demonyms exist for a single country or region. This reflects historical transitions and linguistic diversity.
Netherlands:
– Dutch (common)
– Hollander (refers to people from a specific region)
– Netherlander (less common)
Switzerland:
– Swiss (common)
– Helvetian (derived from Latin, literary expression)
Greece:
– Greek (common)
– Hellene (classical, literary)
2. Demonyms That Differ from Country Names
There are demonyms that are completely unpredictable from the country names as we know them. These are often based on the country’s older names or historical backgrounds.
– British people: British (from Great Britain)
– Dutch people: Dutch (from the old word “Diets”)
– Myanmar people: Burmese (from the former name “Burma”)
– United Arab Emirates people: Emirati (from “Emirate,” meaning principality)
– Thai people: Thai (Siamese was also used, from the old country name “Siam”)
The Thai example is particularly interesting. The demonym “Thai” is not directly derived from the country name “Thailand” but is based on the ethnic name “Thai.” The demonym “Siamese” was also used in the past, derived from the old country name “Siam.” After the country name was changed to “Thailand” in 1939, the demonym remained “Thai.”
3. Region-Specific Demonyms
Not only countries but also regions and cities have their own unique demonyms. These often reflect the region’s history and culture.
– Liverpool (UK): Liverpudlian (derived from “puddle”)
– Glasgow (Scotland): Glaswegian
– Newcastle (UK): Geordie
– Manchester (UK): Mancunian
By the way, people from Tokyo are called “Tokyoite” in English. Although it’s not commonly heard, the correct term is Tokyoite, not Tokyonese or Tokyoish. Since it doesn’t quite resonate, it would be nice if they just directly adopted “Edokko” into English! (laughs)
4. Demonyms Based on Language or Ethnicity
Some demonyms are based on language or ethnic names rather than country names.
– Basque people: Basque (from parts of Spain and France)
– Kurdish people: Kurd (or Kurdish) (an ethnic group spanning multiple countries in the Middle East)
– Roma people: Roma or Romani (distributed throughout Europe)
5. Demonyms Reflecting Historical Transitions
Some demonyms have changed over time, reflecting political and cultural changes.
Iranian people:
– Persian (old term, still used in cultural contexts)
– Iranian (modern official term)
Myanmar people:
– Burmese (old term, still used)
– Myanmar (based on the new country name, though not very common)
The World Expanding Through Demonyms
The world of demonyms is an interesting area where language, history, culture, and people’s identities intersect. Behind each demonym lies a rich story. As travelers or language enthusiasts, by paying attention to demonyms, we can gain a deeper understanding of the world’s diversity and enrich our connections with people.
