Ural
/ˈjʊərəl/noun
A mountain range and geographic region forming part of the conventional boundary between Europe and Asia.
Did you know?The name’s origin remains disputed: scholars have proposed Turkic, Ugric, and other regional sources, so the apparent “belt” meaning is plausible but not certain.
Etymological Timeline
Pre-modern period
Regional languages
Ural
“An ancient regional place-name whose original language and meaning remain uncertain.”
Medieval period
Bashkir
Урал
“A traditional name associated with the mountain range; some scholars connect it with a Turkic word meaning “belt” or “girdle.””
16th–17th Century
Russian
Урал
“The name used in Russian for the Ural mountain region.”
18th Century
English
Ural
“An English geographic name for the mountain range separating the European and Asian regions.”
Modern English
English
Ural
“A proper noun referring to the Ural Mountains, the Ural region, or related geographic features.”