Geographic names

Geographical features

Here are some Spanish words for various geographical features, with a focus on sounds that evoke a fantasy setting.

Landforms

Mountains/Hills

• Sierra: (Mountain range, common in Spain) - e.g., Sierra de la Luna (Moon Range)
• Pico: (Peak, summit) - e.g., Pico del Dragón (Dragon Peak)
• Cerro: (Hill, often a prominent one) - e.g., Cerro de las Sombras (Hill of Shadows)
• Monte: (Mount, mountain) - e.g., Monte Oscuro (Dark Mount)
• Macizo: (Massif, a compact group of mountains) - e.g., Macizo Quebrado (Broken Massif)
• Cima: (Summit, top)
• Loma: (Gentle hill)
• Collado/Puerto: (Mountain pass)

Valleys/Plains

• Valle: (Valley) - e.g., Valle Escondido (Hidden Valley)
• Llano: (Plain, flatland) - e.g., Los Llanos Infinitos (The Infinite Plains)
• Vega: (Fertile plain, often by a river) - e.g., La Vega Verde (The Green Plain)
• Cuenca: (Basin, watershed) - e.g., Cuenca del Silencio (Basin of Silence)
• Depresión: (Depression, low-lying area)

Coasts/Water Bodies

• Costa: (Coast) - e.g., Costa Brava (Wild Coast)
• Playa: (Beach)
• Cala: (Cove, small bay)
• Golfo: (Gulf)
• Bahía: (Bay) - e.g., Bahía de las Sirenas (Mermaid’s Bay)
• Cabo: (Cape) - e.g., Cabo del Fin del Mundo (Cape of the World’s End)
• Estrecho: (Strait)
• Río: (River) - e.g., Río Serpiente (Serpent River)
• Lago: (Lake) - e.g., Lago Profundo (Deep Lake)
• Laguna: (Lagoon, small lake)
• Cascada: (Waterfall)
• Mar: (Sea) - e.g., Mar de las Sombras (Sea of Shadows)
• Arroyo: (Stream, brook)
• Desembocadura: (River mouth, estuary)

Unique/Evocative Features

• Cañón: (Canyon, gorge) - e.g., Cañón del Viento (Canyon of the Wind)
• Desierto: (Desert) - e.g., Desierto de las Cenizas (Desert of Ashes)
• Meseta: (Plateau) - e.g., Meseta Olvidada (Forgotten Plateau)
• Selva/Jungla: (Jungle, rainforest)
• Bosque: (Forest) - e.g., Bosque Encantado (Enchanted Forest)
• Cueva: (Cave) - e.g., Cueva del Eco (Cave of the Echo)
• Volcán: (Volcano) - e.g., Volcán Durmiente (Sleeping Volcano)
• Páramo: (High, barren plateau/moorland) - e.g., Páramo Helado (Frozen Moor)
• Ciénega/Pantano: (Swamp, marsh)
• Duna: (Dune)
• Acantilado: (Cliff)
• Glaciar: (Glacier)
• Géiser: (Geyser)
• Oasis: (Oasis)

Tips for Naming Geographical Features

Combine terms: “Sierra del Fuego” (Fire Range), “Valle del Viento Susurrante” (Valley of the Whispering Wind)

Adjectives: Use evocative Spanish adjectives to add flavour.

Examples: Oscuro (dark), Blanco (white), Rojo (red), Antiguo (ancient), Silencioso (silent), Quebrado (broken), Escondido (hidden), Eterno (eternal), Brillante (shining), Místico (mystic), Perdido (lost), Salvaje (wild), Frío (cold), Caliente (hot).

Nouns: Use common or metaphorical nouns.

Examples: Sol (sun), Luna (moon), Estrella (star), Sombra (shadow), Eco (echo), Susurro (whisper), Lágrima (tear), Sangre (blood), Hueso (bone), Espíritu (spirit), Alma (soul), Dragón (dragon), Grifo (griffin), Gigante (giant), Serpiente (serpent).

“De la/del/de los/de las”: These prepositions are key for linking words in Spanish names, meaning “of the”.

• eg. Cañón de la Sombra (Canyon of the Shadow)
• eg. Montañas de los Gigantes (Mountains of the Giants)

Island Names

Island names can be particularly fun, combining geographical descriptors, historical/mythical elements, and evocative imagery.

Direct Spanish Translation/Descriptors

• Isla [Adjective/Noun]:
• Isla Blanca (White Island)
• Isla Negra (Black Island)
• Isla Dorada (Golden Island)
• Isla Escondida (Hidden Island)
• Isla de la Niebla (Island of the Mist)
• Isla del Sol (Island of the Sun)
• Isla de la Luna (Island of the Moon)
• Isla de los Lamentos (Island of Laments)
• Isla del Silencio (Island of Silence)
• Isla de las Calaveras (Island of Skulls)
• Isla de los Sueños (Island of Dreams)
• Isla Perdida (Lost Island)
• Isla Salvaje (Wild Island)
• Isla Rota (Broken Island)
• Isla Aislada (Isolated Island)
• Archipiélago [Adjective/Noun]: (Archipelago)
• Archipiélago de las Sirenas (Archipelago of the Mermaids)
• Archipiélago de los Vientos (Archipelago of the Winds)

Mythological/Legendary Inspired Names

• La Isla de Avalon (The Island of Avalon) - While Avalon is English, the structure sounds good in Spanish.
• Las Tierras Sumergidas (The Submerged Lands)
• La Morada de los Antiguos (The Dwelling of the Ancients)
• El Reino Olvidado (The Forgotten Kingdom)
• La Cuna de Dragones (The Cradle of Dragons)
• El Nido del Grifo (The Griffin’s Nest)
• La Ciudadela Flotante (The Floating Citadel)
• La Boca del Leviatán (The Mouth of the Leviathan)

Evocative and Unique Sounds (less direct translation, more sound-based)

• Sorana (Sounds like "sombra" - shadow, or "sol" - sun)
• Veridia (From "verde" - green)
• Cresta Fuerte (Strong Ridge/Crest - good for a rugged island)
• Maravilla (Wonder, marvel)
• Esperanza (Hope)
• Ventura (Fortune, luck, adventure)
• Solara (Sun-like)
• Lunara (Moon-like)
• Amanecer (Dawn)
• Anochecer (Dusk)
• Brisas (Breezes)
• Corazón de Mar (Heart of the Sea)
• Punta Larga (Long Point)
• Los Farallones (Sea stacks, rocky islets)
• El Confín (The End/Boundary)

Tips for Naming Islands

Consider the island’s nature: Is it volcanic, lush, barren, mystical? Let that guide the name.

History/Lore: Does the island have a particular history or a creature associated with it?

Sound and Flow: Say the names out loud. Do they roll off the tongue? Do they fit the mood of your world?

Short vs. Long: Sometimes a single evocative word is powerful, sometimes a descriptive phrase works best.

Vary the structure: Don’t make every island name “Isla de la X.” Mix it up with single words, adjectives, or unique constructions.

Remember to choose names that resonate with the specific feel and lore of your fantasy world.

Place suffixes

Spanish has several suffixes that can indicate a place. These suffixes often derive from Latin or other ancient languages and are found in many place names (toponyms) and common nouns.

Here are some of the most common and important ones:

-al / -ar: These suffixes often indicate a place where something abounds or where a particular type of plant grows.

• Rosal: Rose garden (from rosa - rose)
• Pinar: Pine forest (from pino - pine)
• Maizal: Cornfield (from maíz - corn)
• Arenal: Sandy place (from arena - sand)
• Palomar: Dovecote (from paloma - dove)

-eda / -edal: Similar to -al/-ar, these also refer to places where a type of plant or tree is abundant.

• Alameda: Poplar grove (from álamo - poplar)
• Robledal: Oak grove (from roble - oak)
• Arboleda: Grove of trees (from árbol - tree)

-ería: This suffix usually indicates a place of business or a store related to the root word. It’s a very common way to form names for shops.

• Panadería: Bakery (from pan - bread)
• Zapatería: Shoe store (from zapato - shoe)
• Carnicería: Butcher shop (from carne - meat)
• Ferretería: Hardware store (from hierro - iron/metal)

-dor / -dora (sometimes for places): While often indicating an agent (someone who does something) or an instrument, these can also form nouns referring to a place where an action is performed or where something is found.

• Comedor: Dining room (from comer - to eat)
• Mirador: Viewpoint (from mirar - to look)
• Lavadero: Laundry room (from lavar - to wash)

-torio: This suffix often indicates a place where an action is carried out, especially a more formal or institutional one.

• Sanatorio: Sanatorium (from sanar - to heal)
• Laboratorio: Laboratory (from labor - work)
• Observatorio: Observatory (from observar - to observe)

-ero / -era (sometimes for places): Similar to -dor, these can indicate a container or a place where something is kept or found in abundance.

• Hormiguero: Ant hill (from hormiga - ant)
• Avispero: Wasp nest (from avispa - wasp)

Less common or more historical

-anco / -anca: These are less common in modern Spanish but appear in some historical place names (toponyms), often with pre-Latin or Celtic origins, referring to topographical features like hills, valleys, or rocky areas. Examples include place names like “Coristanco” or “Polanco”.

-burgo: Derived from Germanic, meaning “fortress” or “town,” seen in names like “San Petersburgo” (St. Petersburg) or “Brandemburgo” (Brandenburg).

-villa: Often a prefix, but signifies “town” or “village” and appears frequently in Spanish place names (e.g., Villaviciosa, Villanueva).

-coa: This is a Taino suffix meaning “place” and is found in some Caribbean place names, like “Jarabacoa.”

It’s important to remember that context is key. While these suffixes often indicate a place, some can have other meanings as well (eg. -dor can also indicate a person). However, when you see them in place names or words related to locations, their meaning is usually quite clear.