Questions tagged [geography]
Questions related to geography.
72
questions
2
votes
1answer
51 views
What is the geographic term for a landmass separated by two rivers?
If there is a region of land that sort of makes an island with the two rivers (which are fare apart). What would you call it.
For Example there is a region in Iraq/Syria that almost forms this (the ...
2
votes
1answer
55 views
A geography word [closed]
What is the word for the point when a river leaves a mountain to flow out onto a plain or such?
1
vote
0answers
37 views
'Czech'/'Swiss' to refer to the country?
An increasing number of my friends in India and the United Kingdom use 'Czech' to refer to the Czech Republic (and a smaller number do the same with saying 'Swiss' for Switzerland). When politely ...
1
vote
2answers
129 views
What are analogous words to “occidental” and “oriental” for southern and northern? [duplicate]
Definitions
Occidental: "1: relating to the countries of the West"
Oriental: "1. of, relating to, or characteristic of the Orient, or East; Eastern."
So, occidental is effectively a word that is a ...
3
votes
1answer
473 views
What does “water rich area” mean?
I am unsure how to specifically define a water-rich area. I assume that it is an area of water surplus but I am led to believe it has a more specific definition for I have been asked it as a separate ...
2
votes
1answer
128 views
A proper universal name for any city or town, regardless of its size [duplicate]
I'm facing a pressing issue with choosing a proper way to call a place (city, town), regardless of its size.
1) Has to describe places of any size (from pop. 5 to 5 mil.)
2) Must describe any ...
1
vote
0answers
410 views
What is the term used to refer to the words “landlocked” and “coastal”? [closed]
In geography, a place may either be inland/landlocked or coastal in reference to its borders.
Example:
San Diego is a coastal city in the state of California.
Now, I would want to use a label ...
0
votes
0answers
15 views
Guiding tables below the maps and color-coded tables in English [duplicate]
Usually, there is a guiding table below the maps and color-coded tables, to help reader what is the meaning of each color or element. What is that table called in English?
0
votes
1answer
161 views
Northwest Territories and Papal States
The Northwest Territories of Canada are only one territory, and the Papal States in Italy consisted of only one state. Why is the plural used? (In Italian, one says "Stato Pontificio", which is ...
3
votes
2answers
2k views
The Southern US, or the southern US? [duplicate]
To my understanding, specific geographic regions are always capitalized.
For example, Southern US is proper because it is a specific region.
However, a co-author argues that southern should not be ...
0
votes
1answer
290 views
Terms for different types of soil (pictures included)
As a non-native speaker, I'm struggling to describe environments comprehensibly and detailedly.
The following picture shows typical ground in a forest, and I would most likely call it earth or soil.
...
2
votes
1answer
122 views
Why is the phrase “coal country” uncountable in this sentence? Does it mean a particular region?
Why is the phrase "coal country" uncountable in this sentence? Does it mean a particular region?
Were he frustrated in Congress, the president would surely fall back on areas where he has a free ...
2
votes
1answer
259 views
Etymology of “Dubai”
I need to etymologize the city name Dubai (United Arab Emirates) for a project. Etymonline only lists the origins as "uncertain" and Wiktionary traces it to دُبَيّ, the Arabic term for it (pronounced ...
-1
votes
1answer
120 views
Wallonia or Walloon Region? [duplicate]
What is the preferred way to refer to la Wallonie in English -- Wallonia or Walloon Region?
2
votes
2answers
119 views
The grammatical number of “Newfoundland and Labrador”
Some of the confusion among the posted answers cause me to add this prefatory note: There is one province called Newfoundland and Labrador. There is no province called Newfoundland and there is no ...
5
votes
1answer
337 views
Etymology of “Djibouti”
The country name Djibouti has no etymology listed on both Etymonline and Wiktionary. I do know that's it named after the city for sure, but where did that come from?
I tried to research it, but all I ...
4
votes
2answers
729 views
Capitalising names of geographical/tourist terms
I'm translating a series of short tourism-related texts from Croatian to English and I can't find definitive answers for some of my dilemmas:
Names of waterfalls / caves / trails & word order
...
4
votes
2answers
2k views
A word to describe the point of land at the confluence of two rivers?
I'm seeking a word that best describes the point of land created by the confluence of two rivers. The parcel of land in question would be situated in between the two rivers as their flow combined to ...
2
votes
4answers
467 views
Is there a word for a road or river that runs almost “vertical” in the map?
Is there an adjective to describe a road or a river whose orientation is nearly north to south (e.g. looks vertical in the map)? An example sentence would be, "the [word] highway between Foopolis and ...
4
votes
2answers
405 views
Name for the peak of a plateau
The highest point; the flatland.
Ex: Summit is to mountain/hill as _____ is to plateau.
Would summit just be acceptable in itself?
6
votes
6answers
2k views
Word for crossing the bottom of a valley
To refer to the highest point on a hill, one might use the word "crest":
He walked up to the crest of the hill, and surveyed his surroundings.
On the other hand, one might also use "crest" as a ...
1
vote
0answers
130 views
Term for derogatory suffix used with city names?
When speaking of a city in negative terms one might attach a prefix/suffix to the city name. This nickname is a portmanteau that implies a derogatory tone. Most often this will be a negative term but ...
1
vote
3answers
2k views
Another word for a single line of trees on a hilltop, as seen from a distance
There's definitely a single word that is used to describe, when seen from a distance, a single row of trees on a hilltop. I searched quite a bit but am unable to find the word.
3
votes
1answer
1k views
How do you write “deep south”?
How does one write "deep south?" It is a proper noun so I believe South is capitalized but what about d/Deep ?
0
votes
2answers
746 views
What do you call someone from the Americas if not American? [closed]
Someone from Europe is European.
Someone from Africa is African.
Someone from Asia is Asian.
Someone from Oceania is presumably Oceanic.
But you can't call a person from the Americas an American due ...
6
votes
4answers
203 views
Is there a process name for an island becoming unisolated?
I previously asked this on the history stack exchange but unfortunately had no good luck, and I was recommended to give this stack exchange a go, so:
Basically I would like to know if there is an ...
4
votes
2answers
647 views
The definite article with geographical terms
I know in English you can use the definite article with geographical expressiones such as the sea, the country, the land, the city, the beach, the seaside, but what about other geographical terms? Can ...
0
votes
2answers
5k views
Should “global south” be capitalized?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North%E2%80%93South_divide
In a context such as,
The harsh realities as the result of the socioeconomic conditions plaguing the global south
Should it be "Global ...
15
votes
3answers
1k views
Why 'prefecture' for Japanese administration areas?
There are many ways of labeling the smaller administrative areas of a country: states. For the US, provinces for Canada, counties for Ireland for English speaking countries, and departments (or ...
-1
votes
1answer
563 views
Is it wise to specify a country name in brackets when referring to foreign city in an official document
While writing a formal document in an English language, I would like to know whether it's wise to specify a country name in brackets when referring to foreign city in an official document. For example,...
9
votes
4answers
2k views
Term for all landmasses connected to Europe?
I'm looking for one phrase that refers to the entire landmass that makes Europe, Africa, and Asia without having to name each continent separately, much like how I can say the Americas to refer to ...
21
votes
14answers
2k views
Word for inlets of a mountain
Can the word inlet be used for mountains, too? I'm looking for a word that describes valleys that reach into the mountain, but don't go across it.
Here is a picture that tries to describe what I'm ...
7
votes
6answers
715 views
Expression for an abrupt change in height
Is there an expression for an abrupt change in height? I’m looking for a word for the edge of the change, like in the German word Geländekante.
1
vote
1answer
11k views
Why do the names of so many places end in -ia? [closed]
Many countries, continents, states, and cities have an English name ending in ‘-ia’:
India, Indonesia, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Asia, Alexandria, Philadelphia, California, …
What is ...
2
votes
2answers
1k views
Another word for “kisses” or “slightly touches” or “barely makes contact”
I'm specifically trying to find the perfect word for this phrase I'm adding to Wikipedia:
Oman's Musandam peninsula kisses the gulf at the Strait of Hormuz.
But kisses really isn't the right word. ...
6
votes
1answer
792 views
Why do we say “Eastern Europe” but “East Asia”?
My girlfriend, who is not a native English speaker, asked me this yesterday: why are some geographical regions prefixed with the nouns North, South, East and West, but others are prefixed with the ...
1
vote
1answer
97 views
Capitalisation of geographical entities in lists
I cannot seem to find an agreement on the proper capitalisation of geographical entities that use common nouns as part of their full name.
Specifically my example is:
...was found in the Pacific, ...
2
votes
2answers
1k views
Accepted way to abbreviate cities that have “Saint” in their name
My first question here, so I'm not sure if this OT or not, so please bare with me.
Background: I don't live in US. I'm working with some data that I'm pulling from Adwords. Sometimes, I'm getting a ...
3
votes
2answers
496 views
Do I so often encounter simple past for past participle (e.g., “I have went,” “what was did to her”) because of where I am or when?
Since moving to small-town northern Minnesota (USA) two dozen years back to teach English, I have noticed a lot of instances in spoken language where the simple past is used in lieu of the past ...
1
vote
3answers
125 views
How to phrase a worldwide location in English?
I have an online form where a user would usually submit a specific location in a field, e.g. Moscow, Berlin, New York, Paris. But sometimes there is no specific city location, for instance for a ...
4
votes
1answer
744 views
How should I parse the name of the UK? [closed]
I've grown up in the UK and always considered that it is a United Kingdom of four countries: the three countries on the island of Great Britain and the country/province1 of Northern Ireland. ...
5
votes
3answers
26k views
How should “Northern Europe” be capitalized?
Europe should obviously be capitalized, since it is a proper noun. Should the northern part of the example sentence "I was traveling through northern Europe." be capitalized?
In country names such as ...
10
votes
2answers
3k views
Why do we say County Durham?
In Ireland all the counties are expressed as 'County....' followed by the name, e.g. County Kerry, County Galway, County Clare etc. This equally applies to the six counties north of the border, County ...
1
vote
1answer
145 views
Capitalize “state?” [duplicate]
Do you capitalize the word "state" when saying, "In Washington State, individuals who are unemployed may apply for treatment through DSHS."
1
vote
3answers
22k views
Where in the world does “a lift” mean “a ride in the car”?
In the United States and Canada, when someone asks you for "a lift" or you offer "a lift", you are speaking about riding in a car with them.
However, in England and other places, a "lift" is an ...
3
votes
1answer
453 views
Do Australians say “down north”?
I noticed some maps from the southern hemisphere are "reversed" with the south pole on top.
Which makes me wonder, are there places in the southern hemisphere where the concept of "down" is presumed ...
2
votes
2answers
194 views
How do I refer to a geographical area outside Britain (use article or not)
I am not a native English speaker. In a scientific paper I'm writing, I refer to geographical areas in Belgium: Kempen, Hageland.
In Dutch, an article is used when referring to these areas: "in de ...
23
votes
2answers
19k views
Meaning of suffix '-sex' in 'Sussex, Middlesex' [closed]
I know that Sussex and Middlesex are in England. It looks to me as if there is a pattern in names.
What does the suffix -sex mean? Where does it come from?
2
votes
1answer
551 views
Adjective relating to Great Britain and Ireland
Is there an adjective meaning “from or pertaining to the British Isles” (or if you prefer “from Great Britain, Ireland or surrounding islands”, or “from the Atlantic Archipelago”, or whatever floats ...
2
votes
0answers
3k views
Where can I find a list of colloquial abbreviations for cities? [closed]
I'm seeking a list of commonly used abbreviations for US cities (and also European cities, but let's start with the US). When I say abbreviations, that could be anything from 2 letters or more that ...
