German exonyms

Below is a list of German language exonyms for formerly German places and other places in non-German-speaking areas of the world. Archaic names are in italics.

Algeria

 Algeria Algerien
English name German name Endonym Notes
Name Language
Algiers Algier Al-Jazā'ir Arabic

Belarus

 Belarus Weißrussland
English name German name Endonym Notes
Name Language
Grodno Garten[1] Hrodna Belarusian Archaic

Belgium

 Belgium Belgien
English name German name Endonym Notes
Name Language
Antwerp Antorff Antwerpen Dutch Archaic
Bruges Brügge Brugge Dutch
Brussels Brüssel Brussel Dutch
Bruxelles French
Leuven Löwen Leuven Dutch
Liège Lüttich Lidje Walloon
Liège French
Ostend Ostende Oostende Dutch

China

 China
English name German name Endonym Notes
Name Language
Beijing Peking Beijing Mandarin
Guangzhou Kanton Guangzhou Mandarin
Jiaozhou Kiautschou Jiaozhou Mandarin
Nanjing Nanking Nanjing Mandarin
Qingdao Tsingtau Qingdao Mandarin

Croatia

Cyprus

 Cyprus Zypern
English name German name Endonym Notes
Name Language
Nicosia Nikosia Lefkosía (Λευκωσία) Greek
Lefkoşa Turkish

Czech Republic

Denmark

 Denmark Dänemark
English name German name Endonym Notes
Name Language
Copenhagen Kopenhagen København Danish

Djibouti

 Djibouti Dschibuti
English name German name Endonym Notes
Name Language
Djibouti Dschibuti Ville de Djibouti French

Egypt

 Egypt Ägypten
English name German name Endonym Notes
Name Language
Cairo Kairo al-Qāhirah Arabic

Estonia

Faroe Islands

 Faroe Islands Färöer Inseln
English name German name Endonym Notes
Name Language
Akraberg Äckerkliff Akraberg Faroese
Gásadalur Gänsetal Gásadalur Faroese
Hoyvík Heubucht Hoyvík Faroese
Haldórsvík Halldórsbucht Haldórsvík Faroese
Kirkjubøur Kirchdorf Kirkjubøur Faroese
Miðvágur Mittelbucht Miðvágur Faroese
Syðradalur Südtal Syðradalur Faroese
Tórshavn Thorshaven Tórshavn Faroese
Vestmanna Westmännerhafen Vestmanna Faroese

France

 France Frankreich
English name German name Endonym Notes
Name Language
Colmar Kolmar Colmar French
Dunkirk Dünkirchen Dunkerque French
Mulhouse Mülhausen Mulhouse French
Nice Nizza Nice French
Strasbourg Straßburg Strasbourg French

Georgia

 Georgia Georgien
English name German name Endonym Notes
Name Language
Tbilisi Tiflis Tbilisi Georgian

Greece

 Greece Griechenland
English name German name Endonym Notes
Name Language
Athens Athen Athína Greek
Corfu Korfu Kérkyra Greek
Corinth Korinth Kórinthos Greek
Piraeus Piräus Piraiás Greek
Thebes Theben Thiva Greek
Crete Kreta Kríti Greek
Rhodes Rhodos Ródos Greek

Hungary

India

 India Indien
English name German name Endonym Notes
Name Language
Kolkata Kalkutta Kolkata Bengali

Israel

 Israel
English name German name Endonym Notes
Name Language
Acre Akkon, Akko Ako Hebrew
Alonei Abba Waldheim Aloney Abba Hebrew Archaic
Ashkelon Ascalon Ashkelon Hebrew
Bnei Atarot Wilhelma Bney Atarot Hebrew Archaic
Daburiyya Tabor Daburiyya Hebrew
Kafr Kanna Kana Kafr Kanna Hebrew
Kfar Tavor Kfar Tabor Kfar Tavor Hebrew
Lod Lydda Lod Hebrew
Netzer Sereni Bir Salem Netzer Sereni Hebrew Used for times before 1948
Sea of Galilee See Genezareth Yamat HaKineret Hebrew
Sharona Sarona Sharona Hebrew Used for times before 1948

Italy

 Italy
English name German name Endonym Notes
Name Language
Agrigento Agrigent Agrigento Italian
Brescia Brixen Brescia Italian Archaic: Wälsch-Brixen
Florence Florenz Firenze Italian
Genoa Genua Genova Italian
Gorizia Görz Gorizia Italian
Milan Mailand Milano Italian
Naples Neapel Napoli Italian
Rome Rom Roma Italian
Syracuse Syrakus Siracusa Italian
Taranto Tarent Taranto Italian
Trento Trient Trento Italian
Trieste Triest Trieste Italian
Venice Venedig Venezia Italian
Verona Wälsch-Bern Verona Italian Archaic

Japan

 Japan
English name German name Endonym Notes
Name Language
Tokyo Tokio Toukyou Japanese

Latvia

Lebanon

 Lebanon Libanon
English name German name Endonym Notes
Name Language
Tripoli Tripoli(s) Ṭarabulus Arabic
Tyre Tyrus Ṣūr Arabic

Libya

 Libya Libyen
English name German name Endonym Notes
Name Language
Tripoli Tripolis Ṭarabulus Arabic

Lithuania

See also: List of German exonyms for places in Lithuania and List of cities and towns in East Prussia
 Lithuania Litauen
English name German name Endonym Notes
Name Language
Alytus Alitten Alytus Lithuanian
Kretinga Crottingen Kretinga Lithuanian
Gargždai Garsden Gargždai Lithuanian
Kaunas Kauen Kaunas Lithuanian
Klaipėda Memel Klaipėda Lithuanian
Nida Nidden Nida Lithuanian
Pagėgiai Pogegen Pagėgiai Lithuanian
Palanga Polangen Palanga Lithuanian
Panevėžys Ponewiesch Panevėžys Lithuanian
Rusnė Ruß Rusnė Lithuanian
Saugos Saugen Saugos Lithuanian
Šiauliai Schaulen Šiauliai Lithuanian
Šilutė Heydekrug Šilutė Lithuanian
Tauragė Tauroggen Tauragė Lithuanian
Ukmergė Wilkomir Ukmergė Lithuanian
Vilkyčiai Wilkieten Vilkyčiai Lithuanian
Vilnius Wilna Vilnius Lithuanian

Luxembourg

Note that this list only includes towns whose German name is significantly different from the official (mainly French) form. Towns that differ with predictable spelling/ ending changes shown below are not included.

  • ae, c , é, oe, ou, u, v → ä, k, e, ö, u, ü, w
  • -ange, -haff → -ingen, -hof
 Luxembourg Luxemburg
English name German name Endonym Notes
Name Language
Bellain Besslingen Bellain
Bavigne Böwen Bavigne
Beaufort Befort Beaufort
Belair Neumerl Belair
Belvaux Beles Belvaux
Berlé Berl Berlé
Bicherhaff Bicherhof Bicherhaff
Bigonville Bondorf Bigonville
Blaschette Blanscht Blaschette
Boevange Bögen Boevange
Boevange-sur-Attert Bögen an der Attert Boevange-sur-Attert
Bollendorf-Pont Bollendorferbrück Bollendorf-Pont
Born-Moulin Bornmühlen Born-Moulin
Boulaide Basuchleiden Boulaide
Bourscheid-Moulin Burscheidermühle Bourscheid-Moulin
Brouch Bruch Brouch
Burschtermillen Burschtermühlen Burschtermillen
Carelshaff Karlshoff Carelshaff
Cessange Zessingen Cessange
Charage Kerschen Charage
Clemency Küntzig Clemency
Clervaux Clerf Clervaux
Colbette Kolbet Colbette
Cruchten Krüchten Cruchten
Dabourg-Pont Dasburgerbrück Dabourg-Pont
Doncols Donkholz Doncols
Eschette Brescht Eschette
Fensterdall Fenstertal Fensterdall
Folschette Fulscht Folschette
Fréiresmillen Freiersmühlen Fréiresmillen
Groëstaen Grünstein Groëstaen
Hachiville Helzingen Hachiville
Hamiville Heinsch Hamiville
Hongerhaff Hungerhoff Hongerhaff
Kappellebour Kappellenbur Kappellebour
Klenge Bourghaff Kleiner Burghof Klenge Bourghaff
Koenerhaff Könnerhaff Koenerhaff
Koeschettte Köscht Koeschettte
Kreiz Kreuz Kreiz
Lamadelaine Rollingen Lamadelaine
Larochette Fels Larochette
Meysembourg Meisemburg Meysembourg
Michelbouch Michelbuch Michelbouch
Michelsbierg Michelsberg Michelsbierg
Mierschgronn Mierschgrund Mierschgronn
Mondercange Monnerich Mondercange
Mondorf-les-Bains Bad Mondorf Mondorf-les-Bains
Moulin de Bigonville Bondorfermühle Moulin de Bigonville
Moutfort Mutfurt Moutfort
Neihaisgen Neuhäuschen Neihaisgen
Perlé Perl Perlé
Petit-Nobressart Klein Elcherodt Petit-Nobressart
Pontpierre Steinbrücken Pontpierre Both names mean "stone bridge"
Quarte-Vents Vierwinden Quarte-Vents Both names mean "four winds"
Roodt-lès-Ell Rodt bei Ell Roodt-lès-Ell
Roodt-sur-Eisch Rodt an der Eisch Roodt-sur-Eisch
Roodt-sur-Syre Rodt an der Syre Roodt-sur-Syre
Roudenhaff Rodenhof Roudenhaff
Sanem Sassenheim Sanem
Septfontaines Simmern Septfontaines
Soleuvre Zolver Soleuvre
Sonlez Soller Sonlez
Surré Syr Surré
Tarchamps Ischpelt Tarchamps
Troine Trotten Troine
Troisvierges Ulflingen Troisvierges
Wallendorf-Pont Wallendorferbrück Wallendorf-Pont
Wincrange Wintger Wincrange

Moldova

 Moldova Moldawien
Moldovan place German name Endonym Notes
Name Language
Chișinău Kischenau, Kischinau, Kischinew Chișinău Romanian
Cioburciu (Transnistria) Hirtenheim Cioburciu (Transnistria) Romanian
Rîșcani Ryschkanowka Rîșcani Romanian
Soltoaia Scholtoi Soltoaia Romanian
Valea Norocului Glückstal Valea Norocului Romanian

Morocco

 Morocco Marokko
English name German name Endonym Notes
Name Language
Essaouira Mogador aṣ-Ṣawīra Arabic outdated

Myanmar

 Myanmar
English name German name Endonym Notes
Name Language
Yangon Rangun Yangon Burmese Compare dated English Rangoon

Namibia

 Namibia
English name German name Endonym Notes
Name Language
Walvis Bay Walfischbucht, Walfischbai Walvis Bay Afrikaans
Windhoek Windhuk Windhoek Afrikaans

Netherlands

 Netherlands Die Niederlande
English name German name Endonym Notes
Name Language
Arnhem Arnheim Arnhem Dutch
Boskoop Boskop Boskoop Dutch
Kerkrade Kirchrath Kerkrade Dutch
Nieuweschans Neuschanz Nieuweschans Dutch
Nijmegen Nimwegen Nijmegen Dutch
Roermond Rurmund Roermond Dutch
's-Hertogenbosch Herzogenbusch 's-Hertogenbosch Dutch
Swalmen Schwalmen Swalmen Dutch
The Hague Den Haag Den Haag Dutch No definite article
Ubach over Worms Waubach Ubach over Worms Dutch
Wahlwiller Wahlweiler Wahlwiller Dutch

North Korea

 North Korea Nordkorea
English name German name Endonym Notes
Name Language
Pyongyang Pjöngjang Pyǒngyang Korean

Norway

 Norway Norwegen
English name German name Endonym Notes
Name Language
Trondheim Drontheim Trondheim Norwegian Obsolete; briefly used during World War II

Papua New Guinea

 Papua New Guinea Papua Neuguinea
English name German name Endonym Notes
Name Language
Kokopo Herbertshöhe Kokopo

Poland

 Poland Polen
English name German name Endonym Inhabitant and surname
Name Language
Bydgoszcz Bromberg Bydgoszcz Polish Bromberger
Gdańsk Danzig Gdańsk Polish Danziger
Katowice Kattowitz Katowice Polish Kattowitzer
Kraków Krakau Kraków Polish Krakauer
Poznań Posen Poznań Polish Posener
Szczecin Stettin Szczecin Polish Stettiner
Warsaw Warschau Warszawa Polish Warschauer
Wrocław Breslau Wrocław Polish Breslauer

Portugal

 Portugal
English name German name Endonym Notes
Name Language
Lisbon Lissabon Lisboa Portuguese

Romania

 Romania Rumänien
English name German name Endonym Notes
Name Language
Bacău Bakau Bacău Romanian Archaic
Baia Mare Frauenbach Baia Mare Romanian Archaic
Botoșan Botoschan Botoșan Romanian Archaic
Brașov Kronstadt Brașov Romanian Archaic
Bucharest Bukarest București Romanian
Buzău Busäu Buzău Romanian Archaic
Câmpulung Langena Câmpulung Romanian Archaic
Cluj-Napoca Klausenburg Cluj-Napoca Romanian Archaic
Constanța Konstanz(a) Constanța Romanian Archaic
Craiova Kragau, Krajowa Craiova Romanian Archaic
Curtea de Argeș Argisch Curtea de Argeș Romanian Archaic
Focșani Fokschan Focșani Romanian Archaic
Galați Galatz Galați Romanian Archaic
Giurgiu Sankt Georg, Zurz Giurgiu Romanian Archaic
Hunedoara Eisenmarkt Hunedoara Romanian Archaic
Iași Jassy Iași Romanian Archaic
Oradea Großwardein Oradea Romanian Archaic
Piatra Neamț Kreuzburg an der Bistritz Piatra Neamț Romanian Archaic
Pitești Pitesk Pitești Romanian Archaic
Râmnicu Sărat Rebnick, Rümnick Râmnicu Sărat Romanian Archaic
Râmnicu Vâlcea Königsberg, Wultsch Râmnicu Vâlcea Romanian Archaic
Reșița Reschitz(a) Reșița Romanian Archaic
Roman Romesmark Roman Romanian Archaic
Satu Mare Sathmar Satu Mare Romanian Archaic
Sibiu Hermannstadt Sibiu Romanian Archaic
Sighișoara Schäßburg Sighișoara Romanian Archaic
Slatina Zelatna Slatina Romanian Archaic
Slobozia Freisdtadt Slobozia Romanian Archaic
Suceava Suczawa Suceava Romanian Archaic
Târgoviște Tergowisch Târgoviște Romanian Archaic
Târgu Jiu Tergoschwyl Târgu Jiu Romanian Archaic
Târgu Mureş Neumarkt Târgu Mureş Romanian Archaic
Timișoara Temeschburg, Temeswar Timișoara Romanian Archaic
Tulcea Tultscha, Tultschs Tulcea Romanian Archaic
Turnu Măgurele Großnikopel Turnu Măgurele Romanian Archaic

Russia

 Russia Russland
English name German name Endonym Notes
Name Language
Gatchina Lindemannstadt Gatchina Russian Was renamed during WW2, but switch back after the war.
Kaliningrad Königsberg Kaliningrad Russian Archaic, founded with German name
Lomonosov Oranienbaum Lomonosov Russian Archaic; founded with German name
Moscow Moskau Moskva Russian
Saint Petersburg Sankt Petersburg Sankt Peterburg Russian Founded with German name
Shlisselburg Schlüsselburg Shlisselburg Russian Archaic, founded with German name
Yekaterinburg Katharinenburg Yekaterinburg Russian Archaic, founded with German name

Serbia

For German place names in the Vojvodina region, please see: German exonyms (Vojvodina)

 Serbia Serbien
English name German name Endonym Notes
Name Language
Belgrade Belgrad Beograd Serbian

Slovakia

Slovenia

South Africa

 South Africa Südafrika
English name German name Endonym Notes
Name Language
Cape Town Kapstadt Kaapstad Afrikaans
Cape Town English
iKapa Xhosa

Spain

 Spain Spanien
English name German name Endonym Notes
Name Language
Aragón Aragonien Aragón Aragonese
Balearic Islands Balearen Illes Balears Catalan
Canary Islands Kanaren Islas Canarias Spanish
Tenerife Teneriffa Tenerife Spanish
Zaragoza Saragossa Zaragoza Spanish

Sweden

 Sweden Schweden
English name German name Endonym Notes
Name Language
Gothenburg Göteborg (Gotenburg) Göteborg Swedish
Scania Schonen Skåne Swedish

Switzerland

  Switzerland Schweiz
English name German name Endonym Notes
Name Language
Delémont Delsberg Delémont French
Geneva Genf Genève French
Neuchâtel Neuenburg Neuchâtel French
Sion Sitten Sion French

Syria

 Syria Syrien
English name German name Endonym Notes
Name Language
Damascus Damaskus Dimashq Arabic

Taiwan

 Taiwan
English name German name Endonym Notes
Name Language
Taipei Taipeh Taipei German name from Hokkien endonym

Tanzania

All of the below names are now obsolete. They were formerly used when Tanzania was part of the colony of German East Africa.

 Tanzania Tansania
English name German name Endonym Notes
Name Language
Galula St. Moritz Galula
Igulwa Mariahilf Igulwa
Ikombe Alt-Langenburg Ikombe
Ilembule Emmaberg Ilembule
Kasanga Bismarckburg, Wißmannhafen Kasanga German names referred to two different cities
Kazimzumbwi Kaiseraue Kazimzumbwi
Kirondatal Kirondathal Kirondatal
Kizarawe Hoffnungshöh Kizarawe
Leganga Leudorf Leganga
Liuli Sphinxhafen Liuli
Lumbira Neu-Langenburg Lumbira
Lushoto Wilhelmsdorf, Wilhelsmthal Lushoto
Manda Weidhafen Manda
Mbulu Neu-Trier Mbulu
Mibirizi Bergfrieden Mibirizi
Mikese Neu-Bonn Mikese
Mlalo [sw] Hohenfriedberg Mlalo
Mnazi Neu-Bethel Mnazi
Nansio Peterswerft Nansio
Nyakanazi Friedberg Nyakanazi
Rombo Fischerstadt Rombo
Sekenke Sachsenwald Sekenke
Shume Neu-Hornow Shume
Tukuyu Langenburg Tukuyu
Ushetu Marienthal Ushetu
Uvinza Gottorp Uvinza

Turkey

 Turkey Türkei
English name German name Endonym Notes
Name Language
Antakya Antiochia Antakya Turkish Archaic
Edirne Adrianopel Ediren Turkish Archaic
Ephesus Ephesos Efes Turkish
Gallipoli Gallipoli Gelibolu Turkish
Halicarnassus Halikarnassos Halikarnas Turkish
Istanbul Byzanz İstanbul Turkish Archaic
Istanbul Konstantinopel İstanbul Turkish Archaic
İzmir Smyrna İzmir Turkish Archaic
Trabzon Trapezunt Trabzon Turkish Archaic
Troy Troja Truva Turkish

Ukraine

 Ukraine
English name German name Endonym Notes
Name Language
Bazaryanka Schulzheim Bazaryanka Founded with German name
Belenkoye Schabolat Belenkoye Founded with German name
Berehove Bergsaß, Lampertshaus Berehove
Bilhorod-Dnistrovsky Akkerman Akkerman
Buschtyno Buschtyn an der Theiß Buschtyno
Chernivtsi Czernowitz/ Tschernowitz Chernivtsi
Chernobyl Tschernobyl Chernobyl
Dubove Dombau, Dombo Dubove
Ivano-Frankivsk Stanislau Ivano-Frankivsk
Georgievka Mariental Georgievka Founded with German name
Glinnaya Glückstal Glinnaya Founded with German name
Karmanova Neudorf Karmanova Founded with German name
Khust Hußt Khust
Kolosova Bergdorf Kolosova Founded with German name
Komarivka Kassel Komarivka Founded with German name
Korolevo Königsfeld an der Theiß Korolevo
Lviv Lemberg Lviv
Mukachevo Munkatsch Mukachevo
Rakhiv Rauhau Rakhiv
Rivne Röwne Rivne
Sergeievko Josefstal Sergeievko Founded with German name
Sevastopol Sewastopol Sevastopol
Shabo Schabo Kolonie Shabo Founded with German name
Solotvyno Salzgruben Solotvyno
Svaliava Schwal(l)bach Svaliava
Tiachiv Großteutschenau Tiachiv
Uzhhorod Ungarish Burg, Ungstadt, Ungwar Uzhhorod
Vinnytsia Winniza Vinnytsia

United Kingdom

 United Kingdom Vereinigtes Königreich
English name German name Endonym Notes
Name Language
Birmingham Bermingheim Birmingham English Archaic
Canterbury Kantelberg, Kanterberg Canterbury English Archaic
Channel Islands Kanalinseln, Normannische Inseln Channel Islands English
Dover Strait Straße von Calais Dover Strait English
Edinburgh Edinburg Edinburgh Scots
Dùn Èideann Scottish Gaelic
English Channel Ärmelkanal English Channel English
Orkney Orkaden Orkney Scots Archaic
Scalloway Schaldewage Scalloway Scots Archaic
Scotland Schottland Scotland Scots
Alba Scottish Gaelic
Thames Themse Thames English
White Cliffs of Dover Kreidefelsen von Dover White Cliffs of Dover English

See also

References

  1. ^ "Das Virtuelle Preußische Urkundenbuch". University of Hamburg. 2017. Retrieved 2021-10-05.