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.

Luxembourg is a small, landlocked country in Western Europe with Luxembourg City as its capital. As a founding member of the European Community in 1958, it adopted the euro in 1999 and is one of the world's wealthiest countries per capita. Luxembourg is a major financial center and hosts several important European Union institutions, including parts of the European Court of Justice and the European Investment Bank. The country has a trilingual population, with Luxembourgish, French, and German all in use. Its historic old town, perched on rocky cliffs above deep river valleys, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visitors can enjoy castles, scenic hiking trails through the Mullerthal region, and a cosmopolitan atmosphere that reflects the country's international character.
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From Germanic 'Lucilinburhuc', meaning 'little fortress'.
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 Luxembourgers 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