Indochina
/ˌɪn.doʊˈtʃaɪ.nə/noun
A historical region of mainland Southeast Asia comprising present-day Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, and sometimes adjoining areas.
Did you know?The term was coined in French geopolitical writing, not inherited from an ancient Southeast Asian language or kingdom.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*sindhu-
“A boundary or river, especially a large river”
Ancient Sanskrit
Sanskrit
sindhu
“River; specifically the Indus River”
Ancient Greek
Greek
Indos
“The Indus River and the lands beyond it”
Classical Latin
Latin
India
“The land beyond the Indus”
1810
French
Indo-Chine
“A geographic name combining India and China”
19th Century
English
Indochina
“The mainland Southeast Asian region perceived as lying between India and China”