Origins of place names: 10 questions

1. Which historic region of the world has a name which derives from the Latin for “between rivers”?
2. Which former capital city was named after its founder, who is said to have made a cross in some marshy ground in 1703 and decreed the building of a city there?
3. When translated into English, what does the name of the capital city of South Korea mean?
4. Which South American country’s capital is named after St. James?
5. Queen Camel, Plucks Gutter and Bishop’s Wobbling: Which of these is not a real English place name?
6. Which American city has a name which means “Red Stick” when translated into English?
7. The turkey is named after the country Turkey in English. But in Portuguese, the turkey is named after a different, South American country. Which one?
8. Which country has a name which, when translated into English, literally means “Ancient and bearded”?
9. Which country’s name in English is derived from the name of the dynasty which ruled there from 918 to 1392?
10. Which African country has a capital city meaning “three cities?
    
    Answers below (scroll down)
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

1. Which historic region of the world has a name which derived from the Latin for “between rivers”?
   A; Mesopotamia
2. Which former capital city was named after its founder, who is said to have made a cross in some marshy ground in 1703 and decreed the building of a city there?
   A: St. Petersburg
3. When translated into English, what does the name of the capital city of South Korea mean?
   A: Capital
4. Which South American country’s capital is named after St. James?
   A: Chile (Santiago)
5. Queen Camel, Plucks Gutter and Bishop’s Wobbling: Which of these is not a real English place name?
   A: Bishop’s Wobbling
6. Which American city has a name which means “Red Stick” when translated into English?
   A: Baton Rouge
7. The turkey is named after the country Turkey in English. But in Portuguese, the turkey is named after a different, South American country. Which one?
   A: Peru
8. Which country has a name which, when translated into English, literally means “Ancient and bearded”?
   A: Antigua and Barbuda
9. Which country’s name in English is derived from the name of the dynasty which ruled there from 918 to 1392?
   A: Korea (Goryeo dynasty)
10. Which African country has a capital city meaning “three cities?
    A: Libya

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