Georgia

(Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈd͡ʒɔː.d͡ʒə/
- Audio (UK): (file)
(General American) IPA^(key): /ˈd͡ʒɔɹ.d͡ʒə/, enPR: jôrʹjə
- Audio: (file)
- Audio (New Jersey): (file)
(Scotland) IPA^(key): /ˈd͡ʒɔɾ.d͡ʒə/
(Southern US) IPA^(key): /ˈd͡ʒɔʊ.d͡ʒə/
- Audio: (file)
Rhymes: -ɔː(ɹ)dʒə

Etymology 1

Learned borrowing from Medieval Latin Geōrgia, itself a borrowing from Classical Persian (gurj) (with influence from (sānctus) Geōrgius (“Saint George”), alluding to the saint's popularity in the country), from Middle Persian 𐭥𐭫𐭥𐭰𐭠𐭭 pl (wiruz-ān, “Iberians, Georgians”). The term's further history is unknown; it may ultimately be a derivation from Middle Persian 𐭢𐭥𐭫𐭢 (gurg, “wolf”), though that would be phonologically challenging; compare Parthian 𐭅𐭉𐭓𐭔𐭍 pl (wiruž-ān), Old Armenian վիր-ք (vir-kʻ), Old East Slavic гурзи (gurzi). Replaced earlier Georgie, from the same source via a Middle French intermediary.

Early medieval sources hypothesize that the country was named after Saint George, while later European accounts connect the name with agricultural tribes called "Georgi" (from Ancient Greek γεωργός (geōrgós, “farmer”)) mentioned by classical authors (Pliny, IV.26, VI.14; Mela, De Sita Orb. i.2); neither of these etymologies is accepted today.

Proper noun

Georgia

A transcontinental country in the Caucasus region of Europe and Asia, on the coast of the Black Sea. Official name: Georgia. Capital: Tbilisi.
- c. 1587–1588 (date written), [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The Second Part […], 2nd edition, part 2, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire; London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act V, scene i:
  Though this be held his laſt daies dꝛeadfull ſiege,
  Wherein he ſpareth neither man noꝛ childe,
  Yet are there Chꝛiſtians of Georgia here,
  Whoſe ſtate who euer pitied and relieu'd:
- 1776, Edward Gibbon, chapter III, in The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, volume I, London: […] W[illiam] Strahan; and T[homas] Cadell, […], →OCLC, page 619:
  The practice of raiſing ſlaves to the great offices of ſtate is ſtill more common among the Turks than among the Perſians. The miſerable countries of Georgia and Circaſſia ſupply rulers to the greateſt part of the eaſt.
- 1948, John Steinbeck, chapter 7, in A Russian Journal, New York: The Viking Press, →ISBN, →OCLC:
  During our stay in Georgia Mr. Chmarsky's gremlin hardly operated at all, and that made us feel better toward him, and made him feel better toward us.

Synonyms

Gruzia, Sakartvelo

Derived terms

Descendants

→ Burmese: ဂျော်ဂျီယာ (gyaugyiya)
→ Hindi: जॉर्जिया (jŏrjiyā)
→ Japanese: ジョージア (Jōjia)
→ Korean: 조지아 (Jojia)
→ Mandarin: 喬治亞 / 乔治亚 (Qiáozhìyà)
→ Māori: Hōria
→ Navajo: Jóojah
→ New Latin: Geōrgia
→ Thai: จอร์เจีย (jɔɔ-jiia)

Translations

See Georgia/translations § Etymology 1.

Etymology 2

Location of the state of Georgia in the United States

From George (male given name) +‎ -ia (place-name suffix).

Proper noun

Georgia

A state in the Southern United States. Capital: Atlanta. It is named for George II of Great Britain (1683–1760).
Synonym: Jawjuh
- 1930, “Georgia on My Mind”, Stuart Gorrell (lyrics), Hoagy Carmichael (music):
  I said, Georgia, oh, Georgia
  No peace I find
  Just an old, sweet song
  Keeps Georgia on my mind
- 2020 November 11, Veronica Stracqualursi, “Georgia to conduct full by-hand count of presidential race ballots, secretary of state says”, in CNN‎^[1]:
  Collins and the Trump campaign on Wednesday celebrated the recount decision from the Georgia secretary of state as a victory for “integrity” and “transparency.”
- 2024 November 24, Chris Boyette, “Investigators release update on BioLab chemical plant fire probe”, in CNN‎^[2]:
  The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) has released an update on its investigation into the September 29 BioLab fire in Conyers, Georgia, that shrouded neighborhoods in chemical smoke for days and forced thousands of residents to shelter in place or evacuate.
Ellipsis of University of Georgia.
Synonym: UGA

Coordinate terms: Georgia State, GSU (not to be confused)
- 2025 January 22, Clare Foran, Haley Talbot and Priscilla Alvarez, “Congress passes immigrant detention bill in first legislative win for Trump”, in CNN‎^[3]:
  The legislation is named after Laken Riley, a 22-year old Georgia student who was killed last year while out for a run. An undocumented migrant from Venezuela was convicted and sentenced to life without parole in the case that reignited a national debate over immigration and crime.
Several smaller places in the United States.
1. A town in Franklin County, Vermont, named for George III of the United Kingdom (1738–1820).
2. An unincorporated community in Lawrence County, Indiana, named for the state.
3. An unincorporated community in Cherry County, Nebraska, named for George A. Frost, a local carpenter.
4. An unincorporated community in Monmouth County, New Jersey.
A hamlet in Towednack parish, Cornwall, England.
A transitional serif typeface named after the state, designed by Matthew Carter in 1993.

Derived terms

Translations

See Georgia/translations § Etymology 2.

Etymology 3

Latinate feminine form of George, from Ancient Greek Γεώργιος (Geṓrgios, “farmer”).

Proper noun

Georgia

A female given name from Ancient Greek.
- 1949, Jessamyn West, Except for Me and Thee, Macmillan, published 1969, page 9:
  "Georgia?" his mother said. "Why in the world would a mother want to give her daughter such an outlandish name?" "It's no more outlandish than Jesse Griffith." "Why, Jesse G., thee's named for thy two grandfathers." "Georgia's named for a whole state."

Related terms

Translations

See Georgia/translations § Etymology 3.

Afrikaans

Afrikaans Wikipedia has an article on:

Georgia

Wikipedia ^af

Etymology

Borrowed from English Georgia.

Proper noun

Georgia

Georgia (a state in the Southern United States)

Derived terms