15 Places That Don't Mean What You Think: Explained
Discover 15 places that don't mean what you think—from Paris, Texas to Greenland—and the surprising stories behind their misleading names.

Ankara is the capital of Turkey, having replaced Istanbul as the seat of government in 1923 after the founding of the modern republic. The city is located in central Anatolia, on a high plateau that gives it a dry continental climate. As the political center of the country, Ankara is home to numerous government buildings, ministries, and foreign embassies. Its most important monument is Anıtkabir, the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, founder of the Turkish Republic, which draws visitors from across the country. The historic Ankara Castle overlooks the old town, and the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations displays artifacts from the Hittite and earlier periods. Ankara combines a planned modern layout with traditional neighborhoods, cafes, and a growing university and cultural scene.
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From Greek 'Ankyra', meaning 'anchor'. The demonym is 'Ankarite'.
Other places in the region and their demonyms
Discover 15 places that don't mean what you think—from Paris, Texas to Greenland—and the surprising stories behind their misleading names.
From Montenegro to Naples, these 20 place names that were literally translated show how languages rebuild geography — and what the originals mean.
Want to explore where Ankarites live? Here's the atlas that does it best:
Highly detailed, stunning visuals
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Challenge yourself with our demonym quizzes and see how many you can get right!
Take a Quiz →Challenge yourself with our demonym quizzes and see how many you can get right!
Take a Quiz →Discover demonyms from other places in this region