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.
Marseillais
/mɑːrˈseɪeɪ/

Marseille is the second largest city in France and one of the country's most important Mediterranean ports, located on the southern coast near the French Riviera. Founded by Greek sailors around 600 BC, it is among the oldest cities in Europe, and its long history is visible throughout its neighborhoods. Marseille was European Capital of Culture in 2013, and its diverse, multicultural population gives the city a lively and creative character. It is famous for bouillabaisse, a traditional fish stew, and for the Château d'If fortress on a nearby island, which gained fame through Alexandre Dumas's novel The Count of Monte Cristo. Marseille also serves as a gateway to the French Riviera and to the beautiful calanques, dramatic rocky inlets with turquoise water that invite hiking, swimming, and boat trips.
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From Greek 'Massalia', possibly meaning 'salt' or from the Ligurian tribe name 'Massaliotes'.
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.
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Challenge yourself with our demonym quizzes and see how many you can get right!
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Take a Quiz →Discover demonyms from other places in this region