-stan

-stan ( , ; or ) is a Persian and Sanskrit suffix that means "a place abounding in" or "place where anything abounds". It is widely used by Iranian languages (mainly Persian), Indic languages (mainly Sanskrit, Prakrit and Hindustani), Turkic languages (excluding Siberian Turkic), Dravidic languages (mainly Brahui and Kannada) and other languages. The suffix appears in the names of many regions throughout West, Central and South Asia and parts of the Caucasus and Russia.

Etymology and cognates

Originally an independent noun, the stan morpheme evolved into a suffix because it frequently appeared as the last part in nominal compounds. It is cognate with the English word ', Polish (estate, or New World first-level subdivisions), and Sanskrit ( ; "the act of standing"). The Sanskrit meaning ultimately derived from Proto-Indo-Iranian , which was partly loaned into Ancient Greek as ().

Some of these nations were also known with the Latinate suffix ' during their time as Soviet republics: Kazakhstan was almost always referred to as Kazakhia, Turkmenistan was frequently Turkmenia, Kyrgyzstan often Kirghizia, and Uzbekistan and Tajikistan very occasionally Uzbekia and Tajikia. In addition, the native names of Armenia and India are respectively Hayastan, Hayk being the endonym of Armenians, and Hindustan. The largest -stan country by area is Kazakhstan.

• Absurdistan - A satirical term for countries where absurdity is seen as normal.
• Adjikistan – A central Asian country in the video game '.
• Aldastan – A central Asian country consisting of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, from '.
• Antagonistan – A country in Heavy Weapon.
• Ardistan – A country in the novel Ardistan und Djinnistan by Karl May.
• Avgatiganistan – A country by author Eugene Trivizas meaning "fried eggs" (avga tiganista) in Greek, derived from a pun on 'Afghanistan'.
• Azadistan – A kingdom, meaning "free land", from the anime Mobile Suit Gundam 00.
• Azmanastan (or Uzmenistan) – A country and region in the film The Expendables 3.
• Backhairistan – The homeland of Bolbi Stroganovsky, a character from the cartoon series The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius.
• Bananastan – A country from the Popeye the Sailor comic book series, which was ruled by Saddam Shahame, a parody of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.
• Bangistan – The eponymous country in Bangistan (2015).
• Bazrakhistan – A former Soviet republic in Act of War (1998).
• Belgistan – A Middle Eastern country in the anime Gasaraki.
• Berzerkistan – A republic run by the dictator Trff Bmzklfrpz in the comic strip Doonesbury.
• Bilalistan - A country in the novel Lion's Blood, located in the Southeastern United States.
• Blingostan - A country in Smiling Friends ran by war criminal dictator Mr. Blingo,
• Brajikistan – A country from season 2 of the teen sitcom Wingin' It.
• Capustan – A city-state in Malazan Book of the Fallen.
• Cyberstan - A planet in Helldivers 2.
• Darujhistan – A city-state in Malazan Book of the Fallen.
• Derkaderkastan – A Middle Eastern country in '.
• Djinnistan – A country in the novel Ardistan und Djinnistan by Karl May.
• Franistan – A country referred to in the television show I Love Lucy.
• Frigistan – A country in Heavy Weapon.
• Gohet Gostan – A country in Tiga Abdul.
• Govnostan – Used in some parts of the Internet. Translates to "shitty land".
• Hachmachistan – A country in Kickin' It.
• Helmajistan – A area from the anime Full Metal Panic!.
• Howduyustan ("how do you stand?") – A country from the Uncle Scrooge comics.
• Irakistan – A country in the game Broforce.
• Iranistan – An oriental region of Hyborea (Conan the Barbarian stories).
• Istan – An island state in the online role-playing game, Guild Wars Nightfall.
• Jazeristan – A country in the movie The Misfits.
• Kabulstan – A third-world country in MacGyver.
• Kamistan – A Middle Eastern country featured in the television series 24.
• Kazanistan – An ideal state imagined by John Rawls in The Law of Peoples, in which there is a system of law, legal representation for all groups, and a respect for basic human rights, but not full democracy.
• Kehjistan – The state of the eastern jungles in the game Diablo II.
• Kekistan – A country created by 4chan members that has become a political meme and online movement.
• Kerakhistan – A Middle Eastern country featured in the tabletop miniature wargame Battlefield Evolution.
• Kerplakistan – A country in Big Time Rush.
• Kreplachistan – A country in the Austin Powers film series.
• Langtbortistan – A country in the Danish Donald Duck cartoons, literally meaning "far-away-in-stan".
• Lojbanistan – The country Lojbanists imagine themselves inhabiting.
• Moldovistan – An island country in The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest.
• Obristan – A country in Papers, Please.
• Paristan or Pari-estan – A land inhabited by fairies in the folklore of Middle East, South Asia, and Central Asia.
• Pokolistan – A country in the DC Comics universe.
• Ratznestistan – A country in Annie.
• Serdaristan – A country in '.
• Skandistan – A country in western Russia in The Years of Rice and Salt.
• Stanistan – A name used to describe a hypothetical union between the -stan countries.
• Taboulistan – A country in Vive la France.
• Takistan – A country in '.
• Tazbekistan – A central Asian nation in the BBC television series Ambassadors.
• Turaqistan – A country in War, Inc.
• Turgistan – A central Asian dictatorship in 6 Underground.
• Turmezistan – A country in Doctor Who.
• Tyrgyzstan – A country in the BBC television drama The State Within.
• Urzikstan – A country in ' (2019).
• Ustinkistan – A country in The Fairly OddParents.
• Yakyakistan – A northern country in ' which is inhabited by sapient yaks.
• Zekistan – A central Asian nation in the video game Full Spectrum Warrior.

• Angyalistan – A micronation that claims garbage patches in international waters.
• Autistan – The "metaphorical country" of autistic people.
• Bailoutistan (or Bailoutistan 2.0) - A sarcastic term for Greece following the European Union bail out packages, coined by Yanis Varoufakis in his book Adults in the Room: My Battle With the European and American Deep Establishment.
• Bimaristan – A kind of hospital in medieval Persia and the medieval Islamic world.
• Bradistan – A moniker for Bradford, England, owing to its large population of Pakistani worker migrants.
• Canuckistan – An epithet for Canada, used by Pat Buchanan on 31 October 2002, on his television show on MSNBC in which he denounced Canadians as anti-American and the country as a haven for terrorists. He was reacting to Canadian criticisms of US security measures regarding Arab Canadians.
• Cavaquistan (Cavaquistão in Portuguese) – A name coined after the former Portuguese President and Prime-Minister Aníbal Cavaco Silva, referring to the regions of Portugal where he achieved landslide victories in the elections held in the late 1980s and early 1990s (especially in the Viseu District); intended pun with Kazakhstan (Cazaquistão in Portuguese).
• Dalitstan.org – A Dalit advocacy website active until mid-2006, one of 18 websites that were blocked by the Indian government to check for hate messages following the 2006 Mumbai train bombings.
• Extremistan and Mediocristan – A term used by author Nassim Nicholas Taleb to illustrate concepts of black swan theory in his 2007 book '.
• Filmistan – An Indian film-production company.
• Fondukistan or Fondoqestān – An early medieval settlement and Buddhist monastery in Afghanistan
• Gazimestan – A monument commemorating the historical Battle of Kosovo.
• Hookturnistan – A satirical name for Melbourne, Victoria, due to the large number of hook turns on city roads.
• Hamastan – A hypothetical Palestinian Islamic government with Sharia as law.
• Iranistan – A pseudo-orientalist mansion built for P. T. Barnum in 1848 in Connecticut.
• Islamistan – Means "Land of Islam", used in various contexts
• Londonistan – A nickname given to London by French counter-terrorism agents. It is sometimes used derogatorily to refer to the large immigrant, especially Muslim, population in London.
• Muristan – A complex of streets and shops in the Christian Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem
• New Yorkistan – The title of the cover art for the 10 December 2001 edition of The New Yorker magazine.
• Orbánistan – A derogatory term for Hungary under the rule of Viktor Orbán.
• Paganistan – The pagan/neo-pagan community of Minneapolis–Saint Paul in Minnesota
• Quebecistan – A term coined by Barbara Kay in 2006 in reference to Quebec, Canada.
• Sarvestan – A Sasanian-era palace in the Iranian province of Sarvestan.
• Shabestan – An underground space, usually found in the traditional architecture of mosques, houses, and schools in ancient Persia
• Shahrestan – Several meanings
• Skateistan – A skateboarding/educational organization based in Kabul, Afghanistan.
• Swedistan – A derogatory term for Sweden due to its growing immigration from Islamic countries. It is sometimes used by internet users to attack or offend Swedish Muslims.
• Talibanistan – A name for the government of Afghanistan under Taliban rule.
• Zaqistan – An unrecognized micronation in Nevada.