Query: "-stan" in "Afghanistan"

[ANNE V. GILBERT]

Geral:


----- Original Message -----
From: "Gerald Cohen" <gcohen at UMR.EDU>
To: <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
Sent: Monday, November 12, 2001 5:50 PM
Subject: Query: "-stan" in "Afghanistan"


>     I've recently been asked about the meaning of "-stan" in
"Afghanistan,"
> "Kazakhstan," "Pakistan," etc. I assume it means "state, country" but
> would be grateful for confirmation of this. And exactly in what
> language(s) would it have this meaning?

Your assumption that "stan" means "country"(more literally "the country
of").  It comes from Persian, originally.
Anne G