Hello, Belarus! A map has been created on which the names of countries are written in their native language

Have you ever wondered that words eventually become the most curious way to learn new things about world history from a slightly different angle? For example, the names of countries. Why is Germany in English Germany, and not Deutschland, as the Germans call it? Or why do the Spaniards of the USA have Estados Unidos de América, and not the United States of America — the official name of the country in English?

It all boils down to two terms — exonym and endonym. An exonym is a common name for a geographical region used only outside of that place and language community. So Germany and Estados Unidos de América are exonyms. And an endonym is a common name for a geographical region, which is used just in this region by members of the language community.

If you are wondering how the inhabitants of a particular country call it in their native language, then there is a map where you will find all the endonyms. For countries where two languages are spoken, the names are written in the most common.

Many endonyms are in English, because about a third of all countries in the world have English as the official language. Next, the most common languages were Spanish, Arabic and French.

There is a little confusion with the names in African countries, since the official language is used by a minority of the population. For example, in South Africa, English is the language of the government and the media, but most speak Zulu, so the name of the country in Zulu sounds like this — iRiphabliki yaseNingizimu Afrika.

Several countries have changed their official name. For example, in 2011, the State of Fiji changed the Republic of the Fiji Islands to the Republic of Fiji.

Countries of the world where French is the official or national language.

Countries where Spanish is spoken.

Countries where English is spoken.