Azerbaijan

/əˈzɛː(ɹ).baɪˌdʒɑːn/

/əˈzɛː(ɹ).baɪˌʒɑːn/

Borrowed from Ottoman Turkish آذربایجان (Azerbaycan), from Classical Persian آذَرْبَایْجَان (āzarbāyjān), Arabized form of Early Classical Persian آذَرْبَایْگَان (āzarbāygān) / آذَرْبَادْگَان (āzarbādgān), from Middle Persian [script needed] (ʾtwrpʾtkʾn) / [script needed] (ʾtwrpʾtkn /Ādurbādagān/), from [script needed] (ʾtwrpʾt' /Ādurbād/, “Atropates (the Persian nobleman who founded the independent kingdom of Atropatene)”) [whose name descends from Old Persian *Ātr̥pātah (/Āturpat/, literally “protected by fire”)] + -kʾn' (whence Classical Persian ـگَان (-gān)). Compare Old Armenian Ատրպատական (Atrpatakan), Ատրապատական (Atrapatakan), Ատրպայական (Atrpayakan), Armenian Ադրբեջան (Adrbeǰan), Byzantine Greek Ἀδαρβιγάνων (Adarbigánōn), Classical Syriac ܐܕܘܪܒܝܓܐܢ (ʾĀḏōrbêḡān), Coptic ⲁⲇⲟⲩⲣⲃⲁⲇⲁⲅⲁⲛ (adourbadagan).

der

آذَرْبَایْجَان

m+

آذَرْبَایْگَان

cog

ⲁⲇⲟⲩⲣⲃⲁⲇⲁⲅⲁⲛ

Tahmâsb Coli Khân went to Azerbâïjân, and having liberated its capital, Tabriz, […]

1830, The life of Sheikh Mohammad Ali Hazin, page 206:

Among these were Azerbaijan and Shirvan, where disorders had freshly broken out, […]

1886, Works Issued by the Hakluyt Society, page clxi:

(original sense) A region in northwestern Iran, where ancient Atropatene was located, encompassing the modern provinces of Ardabil, East Azerbaijan and West Azerbaijan.


Tehran

Diacriticless transliteration of Iranian Persian تِهران (tehrân), from Classical Persian تَهران (tahrān). See there for more.

translit

Tehran Province, one of 31 provinces in Iran.


Kurdistan

Kurdistan
Kurdistan Province
Kurdistan Region
Kurds in Turkey#Central Anatolia
Kurds of Khorasan

Either from Northern Kurdish Kurdistan or from Classical Persian کُرْدِسْتَان (kurdistān), equivalent to Kurd + -i- + -stan.

cog

کُرْدِسْتَان

(by extension) A province in northwestern Iran lying within the aforementioned Kurdish-majority region.


Mehran

From Persian مهران (mehrân), from Middle Persian mtrʾn (mihrān). Related to Persian مهر (mehr) and Mithra.


Anna

From Late Latin Anna both directly and via numerous other languages, chiefly in reference to St Anne the apocryphal mother of Mary mother of Jesus but appearing in the Vulgate in reference to Anne the Prophetess, from Koine Greek Ἄννα (Ánna) in the New Testament, from Hebrew חַנָּה (Ḥanâ, “Hannah”), from חַנָּה (ḥanâ, “grace, gracious, graced with child”). As a city in Illinois, named for Anna Davie, wife of one of the initial settlers. Doublet of Ann, Anne, Ana, and Hannah.

Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad
Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad#English

A village in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad, Iran.


Ben

Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari
Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari#English

The capital city of Ben County, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province, Iran.

Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province#English

A county of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province, Iran.


Lang

en-prop

Lang (countable and uncountable, plural Langs)

A village in Gilan, Iran. From Persian لنگ (lang).


Media

From Latin Mēdia, from Ancient Greek Μηδία (Mēdía), from Μῆδος (Mêdos), from *Mada (vocalization uncertain), the Old Median language self-designator signifying speakers of the Median language. Compare Old Persian 𐎶𐎠𐎭 (Māda). Ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *médʰyos (“middle”) i.e. central kingdom, cognate with Sanskrit मध्य (mádhya).

(historical) A region in northwestern Iran, originally inhabited by the Medes


Post

en-proper noun

Post (countable and uncountable, plural Posts)


Sari

A city, the capital of Mazandaran province, northern Iran.


Parthia

From Latin Parthia, from Ancient Greek Παρθία (Parthía), from Old Persian 𐎱𐎼𐎰𐎺 (Parθava) (or another Old Iranian language).

(historical) A region in northeastern Iran.


Zahedan

Sistan and Baluchestan
Sistan and Baluchestan#English

A city, the capital of Sistan and Baluchestan province, Iran.


Qazvin

A city in northwestern Iran; capital of Qazvin province.

Qazvin Province, one of 31 provinces in Iran.


Qezel Ozan

A large river in northwestern Iran. It originates from the mountains of Kurdistan and discharges to the Caspian Sea.


Antioch

Alexander the Great
Seleucid Empire
Seleucus I Nicator

Inherited from Middle English Antioche, from Old French Antioche, from Latin Antiochīa, from Ancient Greek Ἀντιόχεια (Antiókheia), from Ἀντίοχος (Antíokhos) + -εια (-eia, “-ia: forming place names”), originally from the father of Seleucus I Nicator, the general of Alexander the Great who founded the Seleucid Empire. The name was then borne by other Seleucid emperors, who named various cities after themselves. Later cities in the United States, etc., were subsequently named for the earlier ones, particularly the Syrian Antioch which was an important center of early Christianity. Compare Alexandria, Laodicea, Apamea, Ptolemais, and Seleucia.

Southwestern Asia
Southwestern Asia#English

(historical) Various other cities in Southwestern Asia founded by the Seleucid dynasty:

Former name of Nahavand, a city in Iran.


Anshan

An ancient Elamite and later Achaemenid Persian city in modern-day Iran.


Nash

Nash (countable and uncountable, plural Nashes)


Shiraz

A major city in Fars province, in southern Iran, near the remains of Persepolis.


Khorramshahr

From Persian خرمشهر (xorramšahr) itself from خرم (xorram, “happy, green”) + شهر (šahr, “city”).

com

A port city in Khuzestan, located in southwestern Iran.


Mazandaran

Borrowed from Persian مازندران (mâzandarân, literally “the gate or the valley of the giants”).


Zagros

From Iranian Persian زاگرس (zâgros), which could be related to the name of the Sagartians, an Iranian tribe (from Old Persian 𐎠𐎿𐎥𐎼𐎫 (Asagarta)).


Isfahan

Ultimately derived from Classical Persian اِصْفَهَان (isfahān), from Old Persian *spādānah (“army, adj.”) or *spādānām (“of the armies”), from 𐎿𐎱𐎠𐎭 (spādaʰ, “army”), from Proto-Iranian *cwáHdaH (“army”), q.v.

der+

The third largest city of Iran, and former capital of Iran (1598–1736).

Isfahan Province, one of 31 provinces in Iran.


Urmia

Probably from Assyrian Neo-Aramaic ܐܘܪ (w-r, “city”), a common Assyrian name for cities around Mesopotamia, and ܡܝܐ (miyā, “water”), referring to the great lake nearby.

A salt lake northwestern Iran, near Turkey.

A city and capital of West Azerbaijan, Iran, on the shore of the lake of the same name.


Tabriz

A city in northwestern Iran, capital of East Azerbaijan Province. Fourth largest city of Iran with population of about 1,600,000. Historical names: Davrezh, Tavrezh, Tavrez, Tauris.


Ecbatana

From Latin Ecbatana, from Ancient Greek Ἐκβάτανα (Ekbátana), from Old Iranian; see Old Persian 𐏃𐎥𐎶𐎫𐎠𐎴 (Hangmatāna) for more. Doublet of Hamadan.

(historical) The ancient capital of Media, in modern-day Iran, and subsequently a royal residence of Persian and Parthian kings.


Karaj

A city, the capital of Alborz Province, Iran.


Qom

Borrowed from Iranian Persian قم (qom), from Classical Persian قم (qum).

A city in Iran, considered holy by Shi'ite Muslims.


Sanur

A village in Chahardangeh district, Sari county, Mazandaran, Iran.


Arena

A village in Naqadeh County, West Azerbaijan province, north-west Iran.


Susa

From Latin Sūsa, from Ancient Greek Σοῦσα (Soûsa), from Old Persian 𐏂𐎢𐏁𐎠 (Çūšā). Doublet of Sus and Shush.

(historical) Former name of Shush, a city in Iran which served as an ancient capital of Elam, the Persian Empire, the Seleucid Empire and the Parthian Empire.


Mashhad

Borrowed from Persian مشهد (mašhad), from Arabic مشهد (mašhad).

The second largest city in Iran; capital of Razavi Khorasan.


Bam

The capital city of Bam County, Kerman Province, Iran.


Bushehr

The provincial capital of Bushehr Province, Iran.


Khuzestan

Borrowed from Iranian Persian خوزستان (xuzestân), from خوز (xuz), name of the indigenous people of the region, and the suffix ـستان (-estân, “-stan”), or borrowed wholly from Middle Persian hwcstʾn' / 𐭧𐭥𐭰𐭮𐭲𐭭 (Hūzestān, literally “land of Hūz”), itself from hwc (Hūz) + -stʾn' (-estān, “-stan”). The first component is from Old Persian 𐎢𐎺𐎩 (u-v-j /ʰūja-/, “Elam, Elamite”), or from the name of Susa. Compare Ancient Greek Οὔξιοι (Oúxioi), Classical Syriac ܒܝܬ ܗܘܙܝܐ (Bêṯ Hūzāyē), Old Armenian խուժ (xuž, “wild, savage”), Armenian խուժան (xužan, “mob”). The city name Ahvaz is also related. See Origin of the name Khuzestan for more.


Meshkat

Esfahan Province
Esfahan Province#English


Kerman

A city, the provincial capital of Kerman Province, Iran


Kermanshah

The provincial capital of Kermanshah Province, Iran


Hamadan

From Persian همدان (hamadân), from Middle Persian 𐭠𐭧𐭬𐭲𐭠𐭭 (Ahmadān), from Old Persian 𐏃𐎥𐎶𐎫𐎠𐎴 (Hagmatāna-). Doublet of Ecbatana; see that entry for more.

A city, the capital of Hamadan province, Iran.

Hamadan Province, a province in western Iran.


Alborz

From Persian البرز (alborz); see that entry for more. Doublet of Elbrus.


Shatt al-Arab

/ˌʃæt æl ˈæɹ.əb/

From Arabic شَطّ اَلْعَرَب (šaṭṭ al-ʕarab, literally “stream of the Arabs”).

uder

شَطّ اَلْعَرَب

A river in Southwest Iraq, formed by the confluence of the Euphrates and the Tigris; the southern end of the river constitutes the border between Iraq and Iran down to the mouth of the river as it discharges into the Persian Gulf.


Alert

An alternative name for Alharod, a village in Varzaqan County, East Azerbaijan, Iran.


Semnan

A city, the capital of Semnan province, Iran.


Yazd

From Persian یزد (yazd), see it for more.

Yazd province, a central province of Iran.

The capital city of Yazd province, Iran.


Fars

Borrowed from Persian فارس (fârs), see it for more. Doublet of Persis.


Gundeshapur

From Middle Persian *Gundēšāpūr, from 𐭥𐭧𐭩𐭠𐭭𐭣𐭩𐭥𐭪𐭱𐭧𐭯𐭥𐭧𐭥𐭩 (why-ʾndywk-šhpwhry /Weh-Andiyōk-Šābuhr/), compound of 𐭥𐭧𐭩 (weh, “better”) + 𐭠𐭭𐭣𐭩𐭥𐭪𐭱 (Andiyōk, “Antioch”) + 𐭱𐭧𐭯𐭥𐭧𐭥𐭩 (Šābuhr, “Shapur”).

An ancient city in the Sassanid Empire, located in modern-day Khuzestan province, Iran. It was founded by Shapur I and is known for its famous academy.


Khorasan

Borrowed from Iranian Persian خراسان (xorâsân), from Classical Persian خوراسان (xwarāsān), from Middle Persian hwlʾsʾn' (xwarāsān, literally “sunrise; east”).

der

A former province of Iran which subsequently divided into the South Khorasan, North Khorasan, and Razavi Khorasan provinces.


Central

A district of Rasht County, Gilan Province, Iran.


Nazir

Related to nazir (“custodian, official”)?

A village in Markazi Province, Iran, also Qeshlaq-e Nazarlu.


Istakhr

Borrowed from Persian استخر (estaxr), possibly through Arabic إِصْطَخْر (ʔiṣṭaḵr).

bor

Arabic إِصْطَخْر (ʔiṣṭaḵr)

A major ancient and medieval city in Persia, located near Persepolis in modern Iran.


Ahvaz

From Persian اهواز (ahvâz), from Arabic أَهْوَاز (ʔahwāz) and اَلْأَهْوَاز (al-ʔahwāz), a shortened form of سُوق الْأَهْوَاز (sūq al-ʔahwāz), a calque of Middle Persian Hūǰestān-vāčār (literally “the market of Khuzestan”), name of a major town in Sassanian-era Khuzestan; see Khuzestan for more.

der

A city in southern Iran, capital of the Khuzestan Province.


Hecatompylus

From Latin Hecatompylus, from Ancient Greek Ἑκατόμπυλος (Hekatómpulos, literally “one hundred gates”). The city had more than the traditional four gates.

(historical) A city in the province of Qumis, Persia, in modern Iran; Shahr-e Qumis; Saddarvazeh; one of the royal cities of the Parthian Empire.


Hormuz

Borrowed from Persian هرمز (hormoz). Doublet of Ahura Mazda.

A city in Iran; capital of the district of the same name.

होरमुज्द

city in Iran, capital of Hormuz District


Laodicea

From Latin Lāodicēa, from Ancient Greek Λαοδίκεια (Laodíkeia), from Λαοδίκη (Laodíkē) + -εια (-eia, “-ia: forming place names”), chiefly after Laodice I and other Seleucid empresses. Equivalent to Laodice + -a.

(historical) Various former cities in Southwest Asia, including

Former name of Nahavand, a city in Iran.


Sistan

From Persian سیستان (sistân), from earlier Persian سجستان (sajestân), from سکاستان (sakâstân), from Old Persian 𐎿𐎣𐎿𐎫𐎠𐎴 (Sakastāna).

A region of the eastern Iranian Plateau in Iran.


Gabae

Borrowed from Latin Gabae, from Ancient Greek Γάβαι (Gábai), probably from Old Persian *Gaba-. Possibly corresponds to Middle Persian 𐭢𐭣𐭩 (gdy /Gay/, “Sasanian Isfahan”), Parthian 𐭂𐭀𐭁 (gʾb, “Sasanian Isfahan”), Arabic جَيْ (jay, “[capital of] Isfahan?”).

cog

(historical) An ancient Zoroastrian city in Persia, in modern Iran; modern Isfahan.


Salmas

Former name: Shahpur

A city in West Azerbaijan province, Iran.


Lowshan

Central District of Rudbar County#English

A city in Central District of Rudbar County, Gilan Province, in northern Iran.


Charax

From Latin Charax, from Ancient Greek Χάραξ (Khárax).

A former city in Rhagiana, now within modern Iran.


Carmania

An ancient province in modern Iran, along the northern side of the Persian Gulf


Nishapur

From Persian نیشابور (neyšâbur), from earlier Persian نیشاپور (neyšâpur). From Shapur I (Middle Persian 𐭱𐭧𐭯𐭥𐭧𐭥𐭩 (šḥpʿḥʿy)), who is said to have established the city.


Hadan

Isfahan Province
Isfahan Province#English


Zawra'

(Islam) the cities of Tehran (capital of Iran) and Ray (near Tehran).


Ardabil

The capital city of Ardabil Province, Iran.

Holonym: Azerbaijan (“region in Iran”)


Zanjan

The provincial capital of Zanjan Province, Iran.


Faryab

The capital city of Faryab County, Kerman Province, Iran.


Hormozgan

Borrowed from Persian هرمزگان (hormozgân), from هرمز (hormoz, “Hormuz”) + ـگان (-gân). The province is located along the Strait of Hormuz.

bor+

A province of southern Iran, consisting of numerous islands in the Persian Gulf


Chaldiran

A plain in West Azerbaijan, Iran, the site of a battle between the Ottoman Empire and the Safavid Empire in 1514.


Poseidonia

From Latin Poseidonia, from Ancient Greek Ποσειδωνία (Poseidōnía); or directly from Greek Ποσειδωνία (Poseidonía). From Ποσειδῶν (Poseidôn) + -ία (-ía). Equivalent to Poseidon + -ia.

(dated) Synonym of Basaidu, a village in Dulab, Shahab district, Qeshm, Hormozgan, Iran.

Basaidu

(historical) A former village in Persia, Macedonia.


Qeshm

An Iranian island in the Strait of Hormuz.


Bangali

en-noun

Bangali (countable and uncountable, plural Bangalis)

(uncountable) A village in Ramkan, Qeshm County, Hormozgan, Iran.


Bandar Abbas

Borrowed from Persian بندر عباس (bandar abbâs).

bor+

A port city, the capital of Hormozgan province, Iran.


Lorestan

Diacriticless transliteration of Iranian Persian لرستان (lorestân), from Classical Persian لرستان (luristān).

transliteration

A province of Iran, mostly inhabited by the Lur people


Khoy

A city in northwestern Iran; capital of West Azerbaijan.


Abdol Rezaabad

From Persian عبدالرضااباد, from عبدالرضا (given name, "abdorreza") + ـآباد ("-abad", meaning a city, town). Literally "Abdorrezabad".

der

عبدالرضااباد

Persian عبدالرضااباد


Chenaran

A village in Dowlatabad district, Ravansar, Kermanshah, Iran


Khorramabad

Borrowed from Persian خرمآباد, from خرم (xorram) + ـآباد (abad).

bor

Persian خرمآباد

The provincial capital of Lorestan, Iran.


Kamalabad

Transliteration of Persian كمال اباد, which is from کمال (perfection, sovereygnty) + اباد (city)

A village in Khezrabad district, Ashkezar, Yazd, Iran


Seraliveh

Persian سراليوه

A village in Lavandevil district, Astara, Gilan, Iran


Golakhvor

A village in Arzil, Kharvana district, Varzaqan, East Azerbaijan, Iran.


East Azerbaijan

Calque of Persian آذربایجان شرقی (âzarbâyjân-e šarqi).

calque

آذربایجان شرقی

Holonym: Azerbaijan (“region in Iran”)


Larestan

Transliteration of Persian لارستان, from لار (lâr, “Lar”, a city of Iran, capital of Larestan) + ـستان (-estan, “-stan”).


Sarvestan

Transliteration of Persian سروستان, from سرو (sarv, “cypress”) + ـستان (-estan, “-stan”).

Sarvestan County
Sarvestan County#English


Sadat

en-proper-noun

Sadat (countable and uncountable, plural Sadats)

Ultimately from Arabic سَادَات (sādāt), plural of سَيِّد (sayyid, “master; Sayyid”).


Bandar Torkaman

Former name: Bandar Shah

A city on the Caspian Sea, in Torkaman County, Golestan province, northern Iran.


Golestan

One of the 31 provinces in Iran, located in the north of the country.


Bandar-e Emam Khomeyni

Renamed from Bandar Shahpur, after Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

A city and port on the Persian Gulf, in Mahshahr County, Khuzestan province, south-west Iran.


Mianeh

A city in Mianeh County, East Azerbaijan province, north-west Iran.


Shahrud

A city in Shahrud County, Semnan province, Iran.


Sistan and Baluchestan

One of 31 provinces in Iran, in the south-east of the country.


Jolfa

A town in Jolfa County, East Azerbaijan province, north-west Iran.


Maragheh

A city in Maragheh County, East Azerbaijan province, north-west Iran.


Qatur

A town in Khoy County, West Azerbaijan province, Iran, near the border with Turkey.


West Azerbaijan

Calque of Persian آذربایجان غربی (âzarbâyjân-e ğarbi).

calque

آذربایجان غربی

Holonym: Azerbaijan (“region in Iran”)

One of 31 provinces in Iran, located in the north-west of the country and bordered by parts of Iran, Turkey, and Azerbaijan.


Heydarabad

A large number of villages in Iran, including:


Sufian

A town in Shabestar County, East Azerbaijan province, Iran.


Khalajestan

From Persian خلجستان (xalajestân). By surface analysis, Khalaj + -stan.


Bojnord

A city and capital city in Bojnord County, North Khorasan, Iran.


Rasht

From Persian رشت (Rašt), of uncertain origin. Sometimes connected to رشتن (reštan, “to spin, to weave”) or its homonym رشتن (raštan, “to dye”), q.v., both with reference to the city's textile industry.

A city in Iran, the seat of Rasht County's Central District, and the capital of Gilan Province, located on the southwestern shore of the Caspian Sea.


Zabol

Borrowed from Persian زابل. Previously Sistan, renamed by Reza Shah Pahlavi in the late 1920s.

A city in Sistan and Baluchestan province, Iran.


Sadeh

From Persian سده (“hundred”). The name refers to the remaining one hundred days and nights before the beginning of spring.


Ekbatan

bor

Persian اکباتان


Chaharbagh

Borrowed from Persian چهارباغ (čahârbâğ), from چهار (čahâr, “four”) + باغ (bâğ, “garden”), literally “four gardens”.