SPAIN

The tricky word "Spain" can have a very intricate, but impressive etymology. Actually, as the "-ain"-suffix is Basque, the English name for the country is Basque too and should be pronounced as "Spani". The Italian version, "Spagna", pronounced as [spania], seems to be the true sound of the country's name.

From the Kartvelian point of view, the word "spani" is the Old Kartvelian plural of the noun "spa" ("troops". "army"), which should be translated as "troops". Why the ancient Kartvelians identified Spain with the army, is unknown. John Malalas in his "Chronography" tells the following:

"... in the same city he stationed the Roman troops, who were Italians called Spaniards...". ... which the publisher of the "Chronography" comments as follows: "A funny example of how Western nations look in the eyes of Byzantium in the sixth century". Meanwhile the meaning of the comment becomes clear precisely in light of the fact that "spani" in Georgian means "troops". In addition, the phrase "დასავლელი ქართული", literally meaning "western Georgian", in Chanturia's dictionary is stunningly translated as "Spaniard".

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