Discover the nicknames of countries around the world

Where do the nicknames of countries around the world come from? Let's find out together the nicknames of countries around the world !

Every country has its own identity, often reflected in its culture, history, and geography. In addition to their official names, many countries are given affectionate or evocative nicknames that encapsulate their essence in a few words. This article delves into the colorful array of nicknames that adorn countries around the world, offering insight into their cultural nuances and perceptions.

Countries around the world often boast affectionate or descriptive nicknames that capture their essence. The United States is known as the 'Land of the Free,' while India is known as the 'Land of Spices.' Australia is affectionately known as the 'Land Down Under,' and Japan is known as the 'Land of the Rising Sun.' These nicknames reflect cultural, geographical, or historical characteristics that enrich our understanding of each country.

Let's explore the nicknames of countries around the world to see what makes that country so special and interesting.

1. The 8th Continent

 

The 8th Continent is the nickname of Madagascar (Republic of Madagascar), an island nation off the southeast coast of Africa, in the Indian Ocean. It has endemic flora and fauna, which have evolved independently from the rest of the Earth.

Nearly 80% of the plant species here cannot be found anywhere else. This is also the reason why Madagascar is nicknamed the '8th continent'.

2. Land of poets

The Land of Poets is Chile's nickname because it is the birthplace of countless literary geniuses and a huge literary treasure. Two of them are Pablo Neruda and Gabriel Garcia Marquez, two poets recognized as 'the best poets of the 20th century' and received the Nobel Prize.

3. Land of a thousand lakes

This is the nickname given to Finland, one of the countries with the most lakes in the world with 187,888 lakes.

4. Land of Samba

The Land of Samba is the nickname of Brazil, a country famous for its colorfully dressed dancers dancing the Samba dance during the Carnival in Rio de Janeiro every February.

5. Lion Island

Singapore does not have a lion, but the smallest country in Southeast Asia is called the 'Lion Island' because it is its symbol (formerly known as Singa Pura - Lion City).

6. Land of Thunder Dragon - Druk Yul

Land of the Thunder Dragon - Druk Yul is the nickname of Bhutan, a landlocked country located in the eastern Himalayas. This nickname comes from the fact that Bhutan is constantly attacked by fierce and severe storms. The king of Bhutan is called Druk Gyalpo – 'King of the Thunder Dragon'.

 

7. Land of Blue Sky

This is the nickname of Mongolia, an Asian country with the lowest population density in the world. The nickname Land of the Blue Sky comes from the fact that this country enjoys more than 250 sunny days a year. However, the climate here is very harsh, hot in the summer, and in the winter the temperature can drop as low as -30 degrees Celsius.

8. Uncle Sam – Uncle Sam

'Uncle Sam' is the nickname of the United States, which was coined in 1813. During the War of 1812, Samuel Wilson, a meat inspector and supplier for the US army, stamped 'US' on the meat crates - short for 'United States'. But the soldiers mispronounced it as 'Uncle Sam'. Later, local newspapers also used this word and eventually it became the nickname of the United States.

9. Land of fresh dawn

Besides the 'land of kimchi', Korea also has another nickname, 'the land of fresh dawn'. Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang (China) called Korea 'Chaohsien', which means 'freshness in the early morning'.

10. Emerald Island

This is the nickname of Ireland, the basin-shaped island nation given by poet William Drennan in 'When Erin first rose'.

Ireland has abundant rainfall due to its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, resulting in a very vigorous and thriving vegetation.

11. Land of Fire and Ice

The Republic of Iceland is nicknamed 'The Land of Fire and Ice' or 'The Land of Ice'. The reason is that Iceland has two opposite extremes, hot and cold, fire and ice, lava and snow. This is a remote, cold land with many rivers and glaciers because Iceland is located in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, adjacent to the Arctic Circle. Iceland is also located on the Atlantic volcanic belt, so there are many hot springs, volcanoes and huge geothermal resources.

 

12. Chocolate Kingdom

Belgium is always on the list of the most famous chocolate producing countries in the world. Therefore, it is completely understandable that this country is nicknamed the Chocolate Kingdom.

13. The Land of the Rising Sun

In addition to the nickname 'land of the rising sun', Japan is also known as 'the land of the rising sun', 'Land of the rising sun'. According to 'East and West Stories', the rising sun is a hollow mulberry tree that appears in Japanese legend.

15. Rainbow Land

The Rainbow Land is the nickname of South Africa. The reason is that in South Africa, racial discrimination used to be very serious but now this country has become a multicultural, multi-ethnic and multi-religious country.

16. Land of all images

The nickname 'land of ten thousand elephants' or the land of a million elephants is used to refer to Laos, a country that was once home to many elephants.

In 1354, King Fa Ngum named the Kingdom of Laos Lan Xang, meaning 'million elephants'.

17. The Bread Basket of Europe

Ukraine with fertile land and vast wheat fields is the country that exports the most food and wheat to Europe, so it is called the 'Bread Basket of Europe'.