Paraguay
/ˈpærəɡwaɪ/noun
A landlocked country in central South America, also named for the Paraguay River.
Did you know?“Paraguay” originally identified the river and surrounding region in Spanish colonial records; its exact Guaraní origin remains disputed rather than secretly meaning one confirmed phrase.
Etymological Timeline
Pre-Columbian period
Guaraní
Paraguay
“An Indigenous hydronym; its original meaning is uncertain, with several competing interpretations.”
16th Century
Spanish
Paraguay
“The name adopted by Spanish explorers for the major river and the surrounding region.”
1541
Spanish
Provincia del Paraguay
“Colonial Spanish designation for the administrative territory centered on the Paraguay River.”
17th–18th Centuries
Spanish
Paraguay
“A geographical and colonial name used for the region and its river basin.”
1811
Spanish
República del Paraguay
“The Republic of Paraguay, following independence from Spanish rule.”
Modern English
English
Paraguay
“The modern English name of the South American nation.”