This Stunning Map Shows Every Country's Name In Its Own Official Language

Language is an amazing thing, and it’s the many quirks of different languages around the world that make it interesting.

The names of countries is a good example. Why do English speakers refer to Germany as Germany, for example, and not Deutschland as Germans do?

There is an explanation. Extonyms are the common names for geographical regions used only outside the location. Endonyms are the names used within the location. Germany is an extonym and Deutschland is an endonym.

This endonym graphic maps out this phenomenon. It shows every country’s endonym written in the official or national language, or in the case of multiple languages being spoken, the most widely used.

There are so many in English because around a third of all countries have English as an official language. Other frequently spoken languages include Spanish, French and Arabic.

The creator’s website lists all languages used on the map, as well as detailing errors which will be updated in future editions (so if you have a complaint, head there first).

For example, in South Africa, English is the language used in government, but it’s Zulu which is spoken most widely. Thus, the name on the map should have been the Zulu name for the country, iRiphabliki yaseNingizimu Afrika.

Explore the map in high resolution on the website or head to Zazzle where you can purchase prints if you really love it.

About the author

Alice Johnston

Food Editor

Alice is always planning her next meal. She studied English at the University of Bristol before getting her Master’s in newspaper journalism from City University London. She worked on Femail at Mail Online for 18 months writing about lifestyle and food and has also worked at Metro.co.uk, The Guardian, Mumsnet and The Sun. After starting at Culture Trip as a Social Content Producer writing travel and lifestyle stories, she was promoted to the role of Food Editor and now specialises in culinary culture, trends and social issues around food. When she’s not writing, eating or travelling, she can be found cooking overly elaborate dinners, reading cookbooks in bed or playing with her cat, Orlando. Her favourite foods include fishfinger sandwiches, burnt caramel panna cotta, Flamin’ Hot Cheetos and oysters.