Language Quiz: Place Names And Their Meanings

Explanation
Argentina is named after the precious metal silver. The name "Argentina" comes from the Latin word "argentum," which means silver. The country got its name due to the abundance of silver in the region during the Spanish colonial period. The Spanish explorers believed they had found a "land of silver" and named it accordingly. Today, Argentina is known for its rich history of silver mining and is one of the world's leading producers of the precious metal.

Explanation
China is the correct answer because the name "China" in its original language, Mandarin, is "Zhongguo," which translates to "Middle Kingdom." This name reflects the ancient Chinese belief that their country was the center of the world and the middle of civilization.

Explanation
The Hindi name for 'India' is Bharat.

Explanation
Australia and Tonga mean 'south' and Norway means 'north'

Explanation
Rio is Spanish for river, a ford is where you can cross a river without a bridge, kuala is a place where two or more rivers meet. Nuku'alofa means 'abode of love' - nothing to do with rivers!

Explanation
Algeria probably means 'islands' (Arabic Al Jazeera - yes, like the TV channel).
Kiribati is a local pronunciation and spelling of 'Gilbert' (pronounced Kirrybass).
Amerigo Vespucci was an Italian explorer.
The Saud is the family name of the Saudi royal family.

Explanation
Yangtze is derived from Mandarin 'long river'. Azure means blue, Huang is yellow (Korean for Yellow Sea) and Glasgow is an old Brythonic name meaning blue field.

Explanation
The word "beth" in place names in the Middle East means "house". This can be seen in examples such as Bethlehem, Bethel, Bethesda, and Bethany. The word "beth" is derived from the Hebrew language and is commonly used to refer to a dwelling or a house. Therefore, when we see the word "beth" in a place name, it signifies that the location is associated with a house or a dwelling.