Tajikistan

7 5.8

A landlocked mountainous country in Central Asia north of Afghanistan, formerly part of the Soviet Union

proper noun
/təˈdʒikɪˌstɑn/

: Tayikistán

After taking a degree in Arabic studies from Tajikistan State University, he worked as a newspaper correspondent.
war in Tajikistan
civil war in Tajikistan
Tajikistan and Afghanistan

And some guy had blown up in Tajikistan.

Examples

If they are defeated in Afghanistan, they might well take refuge in Tajikistan and further complicate the civil war.

Academic text (1997)
Of all the Central Asian states, the war in Afghanistan affects Tajikistan most significantly.

Academic text (1997)
In the meantime, Tajikistan has become a base for Russian military supplies to the Northern Alliance.

Academic text (1997)
The crisis in Tajikistan may ultimately set a precedent for outside involvement in military matters.

Academic text (1994)
Alexander pushed on into modern Tajikistan, where the Sogdians rose up against him.
Today, a third theme exists: the threatened spillover from the civil wars in Tajikistan and Afghanistan.

Academic text (1996)
The camp is strung out along the Afghan side of the border with Tajikistan.

Fiction book (2000)
Peace in the region, especially in Tajikistan, Afghanistan, and Kashmir, must be achieved before economic takeoff can occur.

Academic text (1996)
In essence, Tajikistan's people belong to two groups: nonmountain Tajiks and mountain Tajiks, or Pamiris.

Academic text (2000)

Synonyms

Tadzhikistan

vsTajikistan

1 7.5

A landlocked mountainous country in southeast Central Asia north of Afghanistan that was part of the Soviet Union

uses the standard modern spelling rather than the older variant

Republic of Tajikistan

vsTajikistan

1 5.4

A country in Central Asia north of Afghanistan with high mountains

is the informal common name rather than the formal state title

Compounds

Republic of Tajikistan

1 5.4

A country in Central Asia north of Afghanistan with high mountains

Surface Forms

Tajikistan main

Morphology

Tajikistan = Tajik (transparent) = Tajik + istan

The formation 'Tajik' + '-istan' straightforwardly yields 'land of the Tajiks' and parallels other country names familiar to learners (e.g., Pakistan, Afghanistan).

Etymology

Tajikistan comes from the name Tajik, the Tajik people, and the Persian ending -stan, which means 'land' or 'place'. So Tajikistan literally means the 'land of the Tajiks', which is why it is the name of the country, like Pakistan or Afghanistan.