Arabic exonyms
This list of Arabic exonyms includes names which are significantly different from the names of the same places in other languages, as well as names of Arabic origin in countries (especially Spain) where Arabic is no longer spoken. Some of these exonyms are no longer in use.
Places not mentioned are generally referred to in Arabic by their respective names in their native languages, adapted to Arabic phonology as necessary.
Exonyms not related to the corresponding toponym in the local language
| English | Arabic | notes |
|---|---|---|
| Acireale | al-Yāq | meaning "the Bull" |
| Aguilar de la Frontera | Bulāya | |
| Austria | النمسا an-Namsā, an-Nimsā | from a Slavic word meaning 'German' |
| Bay of Biscay | Bāhr al-Ahdar | meaning "Greenest Coast" |
| Catania | Balāt al-Fīl | meaning "Court of the Elephant"; also Qātāniyyah |
| Ciudad Real | Māslākha | |
| Ciutadella de Menorca | Madinah al-Jazīra | meaning "City of the Island" |
| Covadonga | Zahra Bilāy | meaning "Flower of Bilay" |
| Enna | Qasr al-Yahyā | meaning "Castle of John", a translation of its former name Castrogiovanni |
| Faro | Bur al-Hārun | meaning Port of Aaron |
| Ukhshūnuba | from Latin variant Ossonoba | |
| Gela | Madinah al-Amud | meaning "City of Columns" |
| Germany | ألمانيا Almāniya | from the Alemanni (as in Spanish, among other languages) |
| Greece | اليونان al-Yūnān | related to Ionia |
| The Hague | Lāhāy | from French La Haye |
| Igualeja | Balāt al-Wālay | meaning "the Bent Court" |
| Montenegro | Jabal al-Aswad | meaning "Black Mountain" |
| Navarre | Balāt al-Bashkans | meaning "Court of the Basque people" |
| Ourem | Abd al-Ejaz | meaning "Servants of the Barrier" |
| Isla de las Palomas | Jazīra al-Tārif | meaning "the Isle of Tarif" |
| Palma de Mallorca | Madinah al-Mayūrqah | meaning "City (Capital) of Mallorca" |
| Reggio Calabria | Rīvāh | |
| Savoca | Qalāt az-Zabūd | meaning "Fort of Zabud" |
| Segura | War al-Abyād | |
| Taormina | Madinah al-Muīzz | meaning "City of Al-Muizz"; also Tābarmīn` |
| Tours | Balāt ash-Shuhadā | meaning "Court of the Martyrs", ref. the Battle of Tours |
| Venice | al-Bunduqīyya |
Arabic-derived names of non-Arabic-speaking places
| English | Arabic | notes |
|---|---|---|
| Albacete | al-Basit | meaning "the Humble" |
| Albaida | al-Bāyda | meaning "the White" |
| Albalá | al-Balād | meaning "the Village" or "the Court" |
| Albarracín | Banī al-Rāzin | meaning "the Sons of Razin" |
| Alberite | Gharīp al-Bāldah | meaning "Village of the Post" |
| Albufeira | al-Bukhāra | meaning "the Lagoon" |
| Alburquerque | Abu al-Qūrq | meaning "Father of the Cork Oak" |
| Alcacer do Sal | Qasr Abu Dānis | meaning "Castle of Abu Danis" |
| Alcalá de los Gazules | Qalāt al-Yāzula | meaning "Fort of Yazula" |
| Alcalá de Guadaíra | Qalāt al-Jabīr | meaning "Castle of Jabir" |
| Alcamo | Manzīl al-Qāmāq | meaning "Messuage of Qamaq" |
| Alcántara | al-Qāntara | meaning "the Bridge" |
| Alcantarilla | Qāntara al-Asqabāh | meaning "the nearest Bridge" |
| Alcañiz | al-Khanaīs | meaning "the Churches" |
| Alcara li Fusi | al-Aqarāt | meaning "Little Fortress" |
| Alcatraz | al-Qātras | meaning "the Sea Eagle" |
| Alcaucín | al-Qāwtīn | meaning "the Arches" |
| Alcazarén | al-Qasraīn | meaning "the Two Castles" |
| Alcuéscar | al-Qāwāsqar | meaning "the Canyons" |
| Alfarnate | al-Fārnit | meaning "the Flour mill" |
| Algaida | al-Ghaīda | meaning "the Wood" |
| Algarrobo | al-Gherīb | meaning "the Winds" |
| Algarve | al-Gharb | meaning "the West" |
| Algeciras | al-Jazīra al-Hadrā | meaning "the Green Island" |
| Alhama de Murcia | Madinah al-Hammā | meaning "City of the Baths" |
| Alhaurín de la Torre | Madinah al-Hāwrīn | meaning "Divine City" |
| Alì | al-Ali | meaning "the Big" |
| Alicante | al-Laqant | meaning "the Bright" |
| Alimena | al-Imān | meaning "the Righteous" |
| Aliminusa | Rakhbal al-Mīnusa | meaning "Farmhouse of Minusa" |
| Aljezur | Al-Juzur | meaning "the Islands" |
| Almáchar | al-Maysār | meaning "the Meadows" |
| Almada | Qalāt al-Mādin | meaning "Fort of the Mine" |
| Almadén | Hisn al-Mādin | meaning "Stronghold of the Mine" |
| Almazán | Madinah al-Māzān | meaning "the Fortified City" |
| Almeirim | Madinah al-Māryām | meaning "City of Saint Mary" |
| Puebla de Almenara | Gharīp al-Mānārah | meaning "Village of the Minaret" |
| Almensilla | al-Manzīl | meaning "the Messuage" |
| Almeria | al-Mariyyah | meaning "the Mirror (of the Sea)" |
| Almuñecar | Hisn al-Munākhar | meaning "Stronghold of the Dale" |
| Alpujarras | al-Būshārat | meaning "the Grasslands" |
| Alquézar | Qasr al-Barbītaniyyah | meaning "Castle of Barbastro" |
| Alzira | Jazīra Shuqr | meaning "Graceful Island" |
| Ardales | Ard Allah | meaning "Turf of God" |
| Arriate | ar-Rīyadh | meaning "the Orchards" |
| Ashgabat | Ishq Ābād | meaning "City of Light" |
| Axarquía | ash-Sharqiyya | meaning "The Eastern (Region)" |
| Azofra | az-Zujrah | meaning "the Tribute" |
| Badajoz | Bayt al-Jaws | meaning "House of the Exigent" |
| Bagheria | Bab al-Gherīb | meaning "Gate of the Winds" |
| Banyalbufar | Banī al-Būfar | meaning "Sons of Būfar" |
| Bari | al-Barī | meaning "the Creator", see Names of God in Islam |
| Beja | Bājad az-Zayt | meaning "Oath to Zaid" |
| Benacazón | Banī al-Qassum | meaning "Sons of Qassum" |
| Benadalid | Banī Walīd | meaning "Sons of Walid" |
| Benaguasil | Banī al-Wazir | meaning "Sons of the Vizier" |
| Benahavís | Banī Khāvis | meaning "Sons of the Abyssinian" |
| Benalmádena | Banī al-Madinah | meaning "Sons of the Settlement" |
| Benarrabá | Banī Arab | meaning "Sons of the Arab" |
| Binissalem | Banī Salīm | meaning "Sons of Salim" |
| Borghetto | al-Burjātah | meaning "(City) of the little Tower" |
| Braga | Bāb al-Ghārbiyyah | meaning "Gateway of the West" (obsolete) |
| Bufalí | Abu Ali | meaning "Father of the Great" |
| Bujalance | Burj al-Hānis | meaning "Tower of the Strongholds" |
| Cáceres | Qasr al-Azād | meaning "the free Castle" |
| Cadiz | al-Qādis | meaning "the Judge's (City)" |
| Calamonaci | Qalāt al-Mānākha | meaning "Castle of the Farm" |
| Calatafimi-Segesta | Qalāt al-Fīmī | meaning "Castle of Euphemius" |
| Calatañazor | Qalāt al-Nāzur | meaning "Castle of the Hawk" |
| Calatayud | Qalāt Ayyūb | meaning "Fort of Ayyub" |
| Calatrava la Vieja | Qalāt ar-Rabāh | meaning "Fort of Rabah" |
| Caltabellotta | Qalāt al-Bālud | meaning "Castle of the Oaks" |
| Caltagirone | Qalāt al-Janūm | meaning "Fort of the Jinns" |
| Caltanisetta | Qalāt al-Nīssa | meaning "Fort of the Women" |
| Caltavuturo | Qalāt Abu Tawīr | meaning "Fort of Abu Tawir" |
| Canicattì | Hāndāq at-Tīn | meaning "Gravel pit" |
| Cartagena | Qārtājin al-Khalfa | meaning "Carthago of the Caliph" |
| Cassaro | al-Qasr | meaning "the Castle" |
| Cieza | Madinah al-Siyāsā | meaning "City of Rule" |
| Cuenca | Madinah Qunqa | meaning "City of Qunqa" |
| Cuevas del Almanzora | Qaīfa al-Mānsur | meaning "Caves of the Victorious" |
| Daroca | Qalāt al-Dawrajāh | meaning "Fort of the Portal" |
| Deià | Qasr al-Daīa | meaning "Castle of the Field" |
| Faraján | al-Fārkhān | meaning "the Joyful" |
| Fátima | Fātīmah | meaning "(City of) Fatima" |
| Genalguacil | Jannat al-Wāzir | meaning "Garden of the Vizier" |
| Generalife | Jannat al-Arīf | meaning "Garden of the Architect" |
| Getafe | al-Jādāfih | meaning "the Long" |
| Gibraltar | Jabal al-Tarīq | meaning "Mountain of Tariq" |
| Granada | Girnātah | meaning "the Pomegranate" |
| Guadalajara | Wādī al-Khajāra | meaning "Valley of Stones" |
| Guadalcanal | Wādi al-Khānnā | meaning "Valley of the Stalls" |
| Guadalcázar | Wādi al-Qasr | meaning "Valley of the Castle" |
| Guadalevín | Wadī al-Labāl | meaning "Valley of Milk" |
| Guadalquivir | Wādi al-Qabīr | meaning "Great Valley" |
| Guadasequies | Wadi al-Sukkār | meaning "the Blind Valley" |
| Guadix | Wādi al-Ash | meaning "the Wadi of Life" |
| Íscar | Hisn al-Asqār | meaning "Stronghold of the Soldier" |
| Jaén | Jayyān | meaning "Crossroads (of caravans)" |
| Kalsa | al-Khalīsa | meaning "the Purest" |
| Lascari | Madinah al-Asqāri | meaning "City of the Soldiers" |
| Castillo de Locubín | Hisn al-Uqbīn | meaning "Stronghold of the Eagle" |
| Lucena | al-Yussāna | meaning "the Blessed" |
| Macharaviaya | Māshār Abu Yahyā | meaning "Court of Abu Yahya" |
| Madrid | al-Mājrit | meaning "the Water Spring" |
| Marratxí | al-Murāqshī | meaning "(People from) Marrakech" |
| Marsala | Marsā Ali | meaning "Big Port" or "Port of Ali" |
| Mazara del Vallo | al-Māzār | meaning "the Grave" |
| Medina Azahara | Madinah az-Zāhra | meaning "The Magnificent City" or "City of the Flower" |
| Medinaceli | Madinah as-Salīm | meaning "City of Salim" |
| Medina-Sidonia | Madinah ash-Shadūna | meaning "City of Sidon" |
| Mineo | Qasr al-Minā | meaning "Castle of Mina" |
| Misilmeri | Manzīl al-Amīr | meaning "Message of the Emir" |
| Nájera | al-Nājarrah | meaning "(City) Among the Rocks" |
| Regalbuto | Rākhbāl al-Abbūd | meaning "Farmhouse of Abbud" |
| Mairena del Aljarafe | Makhrāna al-Shārāf | meaning "the Borough of the Shepherd" |
| Tarifa | Tarīfah | meaning "(City of) Tarif" |
| Tavira | al-Tabīrah | meaning "the Hidden" |
| Tenerife | Tīn al-Arīf | meaning "Gravel of the Architect" |
| Torre Alháquime | Burj al-Hākīm | meaning "Tower of the Wise" |
| Trafalgar | Tārf al-Gharb | meaning "Cape of the West" |
| Ubeda | Ubbayḏah | meaning "Servants of God" |
| Valladolid | Balāt al-Walīd | meaning "Court of Walid" |
| Zafra | az-Zāfarah | meaning "the Harvest" |
| Zamora | Madinah az-Zemurah | meaning "City of the Turquoise" |
| Zisa | al-Azīz | meaning "the Magnificent" |
See also
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