Hunan
/ˈhuːnæn/noun
A province of south-central China, also referring to its people, culture, or cuisine.
Did you know?The name refers to Hunan’s position south of Dongting Lake, while its traditional abbreviation, 湘 (Xiāng), comes from the Xiang River that runs through the region.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Chinese
Chinese
湖
“Lake; the character later used in the name Hunan”
Ancient Chinese
Chinese
南
“South”
Medieval Chinese
Chinese
湖南
“South of the lake, referring to the area south of Dongting Lake”
17th Century
Chinese
Húnán
“Established regional name for the province in the Qing administrative system”
19th Century
English
Hunan
“English romanization of the Chinese provincial name”
Modern English
English
Hunan
“A province of China, and a descriptor for its regional cuisine and culture”