Argentina
/ˌɑːrdʒənˈtiːnə/noun
A country in the southern part of South America.
Did you know?The name arose from Latin argentum, “silver,” inspired by reports and legends that the region around the Río de la Plata held vast silver riches.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*h₂erǵ-
“To shine or be bright; the reconstructed root associated with silver and whiteness.”
Ancient Latin
Latin
argentum
“Silver; a shining or precious metal.”
Medieval Latin
Latin
Argentina
“Silver-colored or pertaining to silver; a feminine form derived from argentum.”
16th Century
Spanish
Río de la Plata
“River of Silver, the waterway whose name reflected European reports of silver wealth inland.”
1602
Spanish
Argentina
“A poetic name for the region, recorded in Martín del Barco Centenera’s poem La Argentina y conquista del Río de la Plata.”
19th Century
Spanish
Argentina
“The established national name of the independent South American country.”