You are watching: Countries starting and ending with a
some of the sounds humans make are universal. Follow to researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics in Nijmegen, the Netherlands, pretty lot everyone claims ‘huh’? approximately the globe. This sound marks a concern or a minute of confusion across borders and also is the very first “universal word” learned by modern-day linguists.
Apart indigenous mild, questionable grunts, what else do numerous of our languages have actually in common? ‘Ah’s’ and also ‘umm’s’ likewise seem to peak the list. In light of this, it is rather unsurprising to discover there room a total of 11 countries and also three territories on planet that start with the letter A. Right here is a quick look at where each country got the name.
The 11 Countries starting with A:
The territories starting with A:
Afghanistan
A landlocked country located in between Iran, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and China, Afghanistan has actually a name that is ancient. Words translates come “Land of the Afghans." that is stated the Pashtun human being who live in the country started calling themselves ‘Afghans’ throughout the Islamic duration which days from around the year 800 come 1258.
The native “Afghan” an initial appears in written background in the Hudud-al-Alam, a 10th-century geography book written in Persian, in 982. "Stan" means "land" or "country" in Persian. And also so, we have "Afghanistan."
People have actually lived top top the land that is today referred to as Afghanistan for around 100,000 years, and different settlements have actually been uncovered native the copper Age. It to be ruled through the Achaemenids, Alexander the Great, at least part of the by the Greeks, and the Seleucid realm of Babylonia. Afghanistan passed through countless empires, kingdoms and princedoms, consisting of an intrusion by Genghis Khan and the Mongolians. After undergoing a period partially rule by the British, it emerged as an rough kingdom. In 1973, a army coup overthrew the monarchy, establishing the Republic that Afghanistan. Today, the nation still struggles to uncover its footing amongst civil and also political unrest, war, and also poverty.
Albania
On a practical front, it is basic to view why the general public external Albania walk not usage the country’s timeless name together it’s challenging to understand just just how to express it. Linguists say the Shqipà«ri, Shqipni has its root in the duration of footrest rule, which took place after part Albanian world moved into Italy and also Greece. "Shqip" is believed to be the original name the the people’s language. The ethnic Albanian communities in Italy and Greece do not use this name.
The word "Albania" is taken into consideration to be the country’s old classic name. Texts from the 16th with 18th centuries call the country Arbà«nà«. This native is said to come native the Latin native arvum which way "farmland" or "field," and the Greek word aroura meaning "farmland."
The floor today recognized (by foreigners) as Albania was ruled by the Greeks, the Romans, the Byzantines, and finally the Ottomans. V the loss of the ottoman Empire, the land it inhabited was divided by ambassadors from the an excellent powers of the moment such as good Britain, Germany, and also Russia, however in doing for this reason did not pay sufficient attention come the ethnic and also demographic realities the the area, paving the means for future instability in the an ar with the rise and fall the the Yugoslavian state. Following human being War II, Albania to be a communist country until 1992, and also it is quiet undergoing autonomous reform come this day.
Algeria
The French called their colony after Algiers, the city they determined as that is capital, after ~ they got into in 1830. Algeria was France"s longest-held abroad territory, and an important possession in their empire. Steady dissatisfaction among the Algerians as result of their lack of political and economic strength grew, top to enhanced autonomy granted by France as they worked to quell polite unrest. Finally, Algeria got its independence in 1962, and maintains close social and economic ties v the French.
American Samoa
You could not listen much about this landmass, however it go exist. American Samoa is an unincorporated US are in the southern Pacific. That covers 7 South Pacific islands and atolls, and its resources is Pago Pago situated on the island of Tutuila. Originally cleared up by Polynesians approximately 1000 BCE, that was an initial sighted by the europeans in 1722, through contact beginning when beachcombers and also missionaries visited.
In 1878, the United states signed a treaty in bespeak to establish a navy harbour ~ above the islands, then in 1899 they were divided between the US and also Germany before the us took manage of the whole area in 1900. It stayed a strategic local for a us naval base, and under the country"s control, though the civilization of American Samoa combated for the ability to regulate their very own affairs. In 1977 they elected their own very first governor, in 1981 their first nonvoting delegate for the house of Representatives, and also finally their first congressman in 1988.
The native Samoa is claimed to mean "people of the sea" however American Samoans perform not have actually a consensus on this. Linguists who have attempted to trace the origin have been met v multiple explanations for the definition of the word, yet none have actually proven conclusive.
Andorra
Andorra has strong ties to Catalonia, the an ar in northern Spain, and also the main language talked in this tiny state is Catalan in addition to Spanish and French. Following manage of the roman empire and then the Visigoths, the escaped the preeminence of the Arabs as it was defended by the Franks to the north. In the year 988, the soil was provided to the Diocese the Urgell by the count of Barcelona in exchange because that land elsewhere. Because then, the Bishop the Urgell has actually remained the co-prince of Andorra together with the Crown that France, and later the President.
Angola
Luanda, Angole. Picture credit: Fabian Plock/Shutterstock
located close come the southern guideline of Africa, Angola borders Namibia, Zambia, the autonomous Republic the the Congo (DRC), and the Atlantic Ocean. "Angola" originates from the word Ngola, which refers to an iron object representing kingship in the Lunda and Mbundu people.
It was initially the roaming lands for noadic tribes choose the Khoi and also the San, until the Bantu migration beginning around 1000 BCE. Different kingdoms and city-states were established and occupied the floor on Angola till the come of the Portuguese. The nation was conquered by Portugal for around 400 years start in the 1500s, approximately its self-reliance in 1975. As a result, that is a Portuguese-speaking country, although one more 46 unofficial language are talked within the borders, mostly Bantu languages.
Anguilla
Anguilla is a British abroad Territory situated in the eastern Caribbean. Complete of clear beaches and also blue skies, the region gets its surname from the Italian or French word because that "eel" in reference to the country’s long, skinny geographical shape. Known for critical salt industry prior to its fallen in the 1980s, Anguilla is a tropic paradise inhabited largely by people of afri descent.
It to be not constantly this way, however. The country was very first inhabited by Arawakan-speaking human being from the Orinoco River container of southern America around 2000 BCE, who referred to as the nation Malliouhana. Later, in 1650, British settlers from Saint Kitts came and colonized the land, through great challenge as they to be often struck by native people and also other colonizers. The British joined the colony together with Saint Kitts and later v Nevis, i beg your pardon the Anguillan human being protested. Adhering to drought, extensive poverty and also labour disturbances, the british quickly began a process of democratization on Anguilla and also other surrounding swarms in the 1930s. Anguilla was component of an connected state with Saint Kitts and also Nevis collection up by the brother in 1967, yet Anguillans flat out refused, proclaiming themselves independent. This lugged the return of brother rule, and also today the is a politically steady British Territory.
Antigua and Barbuda
Antigua is stated to be named by Christopher Columbus in 1493 ~ the Church of Santa Maria de la Antigua found in Sevilla, Spain. Barbuda was dubbed "Wa’omoni" by its original native settlers, i beg your pardon is believed to median "Island of Herons." that was likely Portuguese cartographer Diego Ribero who called the area "Barbuda" in the 1500s, probably referring come the country wild fig-trees, whose aerial roots make them look favor they have beards.
Like other islands in the Caribbean, the British and French both attempted come colonize, through great an obstacle at first, v the British succeeding by the end of the 17th century. The became component of the Leeward archipelago colony, a team of archipelago under brothers rule, until that colony"s dissolution. Antigua gotten in into connected statehood through the unified Kingdom, v Barbuda as a exposed of Antigua. An self-reliance movement overtook the islands in the 1970s, and also finally in 1981 they accomplished independence.
Argentina
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home to Buenos Aires, the "Paris of southern America," Argentina’s name refers to the Latin word for silver, Argentum. Shipwrecked Spanish conquerors were offered silver gift by aboriginal peoples in what was to come to be Argentina in the 1500s. Both the Portuguese and Spanish found the nation was rife through silver, and the surname stuck.
The soil was lived in by various native peoples before the arrival of the Europeans, such together the Incas in the Northwest highlands. It to be a Spanish colony starting in 1580, and also because that the migration of Spaniards and also Italians, the populace today mostly has actually European genealogy with a smaller part with indigenous heritage. The self-reliance movement in Argentina began in the 1800s, and also they declared their self-reliance in 1816. The took plenty of years to loss Spanish royalists in the northern part of the nation who refused the self-reliance of Argentina. Today, Argentina has actually come the end of political and also economic turmoil from the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st.
Armenia
together a landlocked nation in Eurasia through a deep history, Armenia is a previous republic the the Soviet Union and also now considered to be part of Europe, although it sits ideal on the border between Europe and Asia and also so is sometimes considered transcontinental. Interestingly, Armenians execute not contact their nation Armenia however rather Hyastan, and also themselves Hayq (plural. Singular, "Hay"). This words hearken back to a folk hero named Hayk, who legend says was a great-great-grandson the Noah, from the Bible’s Old Testament. According to Armenian legend, the is the forefather that the Armenian people.
The name Armenia was offered to the floor by the neighboring states, possibly due to the fact that of a tribe who resided in the lands, the Armens. However, various other theories exist as to the origin of the name Armenia.
Armenia to be ruled by the Persians and also later by Alexander the Great"s Macedonians, the Seleucids, the Romans, the Persians and also the Byzantines, but even so, the Armenians were well-known throughout those times together a fiercely autonomous and individualistic people. Their culture and language were heavily influenced by the Franks, and also later they dropped under footrest rule. Throughout this period, the Turkic Ottomans cursed a genocide that the Armenians, and also the death count of ethnic Armenians throughout this time is estimated anywhere in between 600,000 and 1,500,000. They became component of the Soviet Union in 1918. ~ a long period of struggle, the Armenians claimed independence in 1991.
Aruba
The island was first inhabited through the Arawaks, an Indigenous population before that was claimed by the Spanish in 1499. It was a hub for piracy and illegal trade. It became part of the dutch West India company in 1636. Small economic breakthrough took location until one oil refinery was built in 1920, which significantly improved living standards on the island together the populace saw profit. It was under the management of the island of Curaçao for lot of its background as a dutch colony, and also in 1986 it became an autonomous state adhering to protest indigenous its populace over the manage of Curaçao, and also not the Netherlands itself. While the was originally on a course towards independence, that goal has actually been postponed indefinitely.
Australia
Australia is a arsenal of previous British colonies and is today component of the Commonwealth. Interestingly, it had actually actually been formerly named new Holland through the Dutch. Before becoming a colony, native peoples populated the land for centuries. Britain first came into contact with the soil when traveler James chef arrived in 1770, and it became an official swarm in 1788. As a jail colony, it was largely occupied by convicts as an alternative to funding punishment. In 1900, the six swarms of Australia came to be an elevation nation, but as part of the Commonwealth, they keep a connect with the joined Kingdom.
Austria
Around the year 700, the land was cleared up by the Bavarians and the Slavs, and there is evidence of Frankish influence at that time. A family dubbed the Habsburgs rule the area that Austria from their capital, Vienna, starting in 1526. They also ruled Bohemia, today component of the Czech Republic, Hungary, Serbia, and also Slavonia, now component of Croatia. Just like many other realms throughout history, it ended up being unsustainable because that the Habsburgs and also conflicts with other monarchies, the industrial revolution, mobilization by the population to become an ext involved with national politics all verified strenuous. The people started a transformation in 1848, and Austria came to be a short-lived twin monarchy v Hungary before that crumbled together well. Austria came to be a republic in 1918.
Azerbaijan
Early citizens of this area to be Iranian speakers, Turkic tribes, and Kurds and also the Arabs and also Persians heavily influenced the area. After ~ wars between Russia and also Iran, the Azerbaijani had actually their land divided between the two claims as castle sat in between the border. Russian Azerbaijan became component of the Soviet Union when it formed, and also it stayed under Soviet regulate until its dissolution.