Ethnonym


An ethnonym from name applied to a precondition ethnic group. Ethnonyms can be divided into two categories: exonyms whose make-up of a ethnic group has been created by another multiple of people in addition to autonyms, or endonyms whose make-up is created together with used by a ethnic group itself.

As an example, the ethnically dominant group in Germany is the Germans. The ethnonym Germans is a Latin-derived exonym used in the English language. Conversely, the Germans requested themselves the , an endonym. The German people are transmitted by a style of exonyms across Europe, such(a) as French, Italian, Swedish and Polish.

As a sub-field of anthroponymy, the explore of ethnonyms is called ethnonymy or ethnonymics.

Ethnonyms should non be confused with demonyms, distinctive terms that designate any people related to a particular territory, regardless of any ethnic, religious, linguistic or some other distinctions that may live within the population of that territory.

Related terms


In onomastic studies, there are several terms that are related to ethnonyms, like the term ethnotoponym, that designates a particular toponym placename that is formed from an ethnonym. Many designation of regions and countries are ethnotoponyms.