Panama
/ˈpæn.ə.mə/noun
A country in Central America, and the name of its capital city.
Did you know?The origin of Panama is debated, but one long-circulating explanation ties it to an indigenous word for a place rich in fish, showing how place names can preserve vanished landscapes and economies.
Etymological Timeline
16th Century
Spanish
Panamá
“The name recorded by Spanish chroniclers for the settlement and region on the Isthmus of Panama.”
Pre-Columbian
Indigenous source uncertain
panamá
“A reported local place-name or phrase, probably from an indigenous language of the region, though the exact source is uncertain.”
19th Century
English
Panama
“The English form of the geographic name, later applied internationally to the country and its canal zone.”
20th Century
English
Panama
“The established modern country name in global use.”