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.

Cambodia is a Southeast Asian kingdom whose capital city is Phnom Penh, a riverside metropolis where the Mekong, Tonle Sap, and Bassac rivers meet. The country is home to the magnificent Angkor Wat temple complex near Siem Reap, one of the largest religious monuments in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its ancient Khmer civilization dates back more than 2,000 years, and it once ruled a powerful empire across much of mainland Southeast Asia. Cambodia is a constitutional monarchy with a developing economy driven by agriculture, garment manufacturing, and tourism. Visitors often remark on the friendly people, rich traditional arts, and vibrant markets. The nation also carries a tragic recent history that visitors can learn about through its memorials and museums, adding depth to any journey.
Want to explore where Cambodians live? Here's the atlas that does it best:
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From the Khmer Empire. 'Cambodian' is the English demonym for the Khmer people.
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 Cambodians live? Here's the atlas that does it best:
Highly detailed, stunning visuals
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
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