Sri Lanka
/ˌʃriː ˈlɑːŋ.kə/noun
An island country in South Asia, formerly known as Ceylon.
Did you know?The name Sri Lanka was officially adopted in 1972, combining Sanskrit śrī (“radiance, prosperity, holy fortune”) with Lanka, the legendary island kingdom from the Ramayana.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Sanskrit
Sanskrit
śrī
“radiance, beauty, prosperity, sacred honor”
Ancient Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Laṅkā
“the legendary island fortress of Ravana in Hindu epic tradition”
Classical / Medieval
Sanskrit
Śrī Laṅkā
““Resplendent Lanka,” an honorific name for the island”
1972
English
Sri Lanka
“the modern official name of the country, replacing Ceylon”