balkan
|bal-kan|
/ˈbæl.kən/
Balkans; mountain/region
Etymology
'balkan' originates from Ottoman Turkish, specifically the word 'balkan', where the root meant 'a chain of wooded mountains'.
'balkan' was used in Turkish to name the mountain range in southeastern Europe; the term was adopted into European languages in the 19th century to refer both to that range and, by extension, the surrounding region (the Balkans), eventually entering modern English as 'Balkan'.
Initially, it referred specifically to the mountain range; over time it broadened to denote the wider geographic and political region and things relating to that region.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a person from the Balkans or, collectively, the countries of the Balkan Peninsula (often used in the plural: the Balkans).
Many balkan have family ties across several neighboring states.
Adjective 1
relating to the Balkan Peninsula or to the peoples, languages, cultures, or affairs of that region.
The balkan music festival showcased traditional songs from the region.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2026/01/05 15:40