The etymology of Patagonia has nothing to do with the "land of big feet" theory—Spanish etymologists themselves have dismissed this interpretation. Instead, the name contains a far more striking linguistic element, one that some may already recognize within "Patagonia."
The "-on" suffix, which appears in the self-designation of the Laz people—Lazona, forces us to confront the inevitable conclusion that Patagonia means "land of Patagi."
The word "Patagi" not only resembles ფათახი (patakhi)—which refers to a female organ—but is, in fact, the same term. Ariane Chanturia’s dictionary provides an alternative spelling, პატაღი (patagi), with the same meaning.
What exactly the Iberians intended when they gave this region such a Kartvelian name remains unclear. The possible interpretations range from "land of women" to "land of cowards."
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