Surinam
/ˌsʊrɪˈnæm/noun
A historical English name for the South American country now officially called Suriname, and for the river associated with it.
Did you know?The name is generally connected with the Surinen, an Indigenous group recorded in the region, although scholars caution that the exact original meaning is uncertain.
Etymological Timeline
Before European contact
Indigenous American languages
Surinen
“Name recorded for an Indigenous people associated with the region; the precise linguistic meaning is uncertain.”
Late 16th Century
Spanish
Suriname
“European records begin applying a similar name to the river and surrounding territory.”
17th Century
Dutch
Suriname
“Dutch colonial usage established the name for the river, colony, and region.”
1667
Dutch and English
Suriname
“After the Dutch took the colony from England, Suriname became the dominant colonial name.”
18th–19th Century
English
Surinam
“English sources commonly used Surinam as a spelling for the colony and its river.”
Modern English
English
Suriname
“Suriname is now the standard English form for the independent South American republic, while Surinam survives in historical and plant and animal names.”
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