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This content has been automatically translated from Ukrainian.
What are toponyms?
Toponyms – are a kind of witnesses of the history, geography and culture of mankind. They surround us everywhere: the names of cities and villages, rivers and lakes, mountains, fields, forests, and even streets. This word comes from Greek "τόπος" <TAG1> place and "╣νομα" <TAG1> name, that is, "place names".
Toponyms in Ukraine: History, meaning and uniqueness
Ukraine – is a country with a rich history, which is reflected not only by architecture or traditions, but also by toponyms. The names of cities, villages, rivers, mountains, lakes and even tracts – are the key to understanding historical changes, cultural diversity and the ethnic composition of our country.
History of Ukrainian toponyms
The toponyms of Ukraine were formed over thousands of years under the influence of many peoples living on its territory: Trypilians, Scythians, Slavs, Greeks, Tatars, Lithuanians, Poles, Austrians, Russians and others. Each of these peoples left their mark, which is reflected in the names of places today.
- Scythian and Sarmatian period. Many rivers and natural features have retained names since the time of the Scythians and Sarmatians. For example, the Dnipro was once called Borysfen, and the Dniester was called Tiras.
- Kyivan Rus. Many oikonyms (names of settlements) with Slavic roots are formed during this period, such as Kyiv, Chernihiv, and Pereyaslav.
- Tatar-mongol influence. Names of Turkic origin appear in southern Ukraine, such as Crimea, Bakhchisarai, Akkerman (now Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi).
- Polish-lithuanian era. Western Ukraine is rich in toponyms of Polish and Lithuanian origin, for example, Lutsk (from the Lithuanian "lukshis" – meadow).
- Austrian and Hungarian influence. In Transcarpathia and Bukovina, names from Austro-Hungarian times remained, for example, Uzhhorod (from the Hungarian "Ungvár" – fortress above the Uzh River).
Geographical classification of toponyms in Ukraine
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Oikonyms (names of settlements).
- Kyiv. The name of the city comes from the name of one of the founding brothers, Kiya.
- Lviv. The city is named after Leo, the son of King Danylo Halytskyi.
- Zaporozhye. The name indicates the geographical location beyond the rapids of the Dnieper.
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Hydronyms (names of rivers, lakes, seas).
- Dnipro. Probably derived from the Scythian "Danapris" – deep river.
- Southern Bug. The name "Bug" has Slavic roots, and the adjective "Southern" is added to distinguish it from Western Bug.
- Synevyr. The lake got its name from the legend of lovers Xin and Vir.
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Oronyms (names of mountains and highlands).
- Carpathians. The name is of ancient Greek origin, where the word "karp" means "rock".
- Hoverla. Derived from the Hungarian "Hóvár" – snow peak.
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Horonyms (historical and geographical regions).
- Podillia. The name means "land in the lowlands" (from the word "division").
- Polissia. The area covered by dense forests (from "forest").
- Galicia. It is related to the city of Halych, the name of which comes from the word "halitsa" (salt mine).
The importance of toponyms for the history and culture of Ukraine
Ukrainian place names are a reflection not only of geography, but also of national identity, linguistic heritage and cultural memory.
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Reflection of ethnic diversity.
- Villages with Tatar names in the south and Crimea (Bakhchisarai, Karasubazar).
- Polish names in the west (Zhovkva, Przemyśl).
- Greek names in the Black Sea region (Odesa, Kherson, Olbia).
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Preservation of historical memory.
- The name of Kamianets-Podilskyi recalls its history as a fortress on rocky land.
- Slavutych was named after the ancient name of the Dnipro.
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Political changes.In the 20th and 21st centuries, many names in Ukraine changed due to political processes. During decommunization, historical names were returned to many cities:
- Dnipropetrovsk → Dnipro.
- Kirovohrad → Kropyvnytskyi.
- Artemivsk → Bakhmut.
Interesting facts about Ukrainian toponyms
- A river with a female name. Desna – is a rare example of a hydronym associated with tenderness and beauty.
- The most common name of the village. There are several dozen villages in Ukraine called Mykhailivka, Ivanivka or Novoselytsia.
- Legends in names. Lake Svityaz in the Volyn region got its name because of the legend about the flooded city.
Challenges of modernity: new toponyms
In modern Ukraine, the process of creating toponyms continues. New housing estates, city streets, squares and districts are given names reflecting cultural identity. For example, a street named after Roman Shukhevich appeared in Kyiv, and many cities now have streets of Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred.
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