spanish 3 the story behind the name

puerto rico

"rich port" first meant the city of san juan, but its now the name of the whole island.

peru

Biru--either the name of a small river or the native chief who lived nearby-- was the source of this country's name.

Costa Rica

Columbus named this area "Gold coast" for gold ornaments worn by the native people. It was later changed to "rich coast"

Honduras

an early Spanish explorer named this part of Central America "depths" because of the deep ocean off its coast

venezuela

native villages built on silts in lake maracaibo reminded spanish explorers of venice, italy so they named the area "little venice.

argentina

part of this country is bordered by the Rio de la plata (river of silver) Its name comes from the latin word for silver, argentum.

ecuador

the equator runs through this small south american country, and gives it its name

bolivia

this country was named for a venezuelan general who helped it and smoother countries win freedom from spain

El Salvador

this country was named for jesus the savior and its capital translates as Holy Savior

colombia

this country- which christopher columbus never reached- was named in his honor

uruguay

this small country was named for the river which is its western border. it means "bird tail" in an indian language, after a waterfall which spreads out like the tail of a bird.

brazil

trees from this region were exported to portugal, so the portuguese called this country "the land of _____ trees."