exónimo

Exónimo is a toponym or ethnonym used by speakers of a language different from that of the place’s inhabitants. It contrasts with the endonym (or autonym), the name used by the people themselves. Exonyms arise through historical contact, linguistic adaptation, or external political influence, and they are a common feature of many languages in relation to foreign places, peoples, or cultures.

Exonyms reflect factors such as pronunciation patterns, historical naming traditions, or external political relationships. They can facilitate communication across languages but may also be seen as less respectful of local naming preferences. In modern code of conduct for international naming, there is increasing emphasis on using endonyms where appropriate, or at least recognizing local names in multilingual contexts.

Common examples illustrate the concept. For Germany, the endonym is Deutschland; exonyms include the English Germany, the French Allemagne, and the Spanish Alemania. For Spain, the endonym is España; exonyms include the English Spain, the French Espagne, and the German Spanien. For Japan, the endonym is Nippon or Nihon; exonyms include the English Japan, the French Japon, the Spanish Japón, and the German Japan. Exonyms also occur for cities, such as London being Londres in French or Spanish, while English uses London as the local form.

In toponymy, exonyms are analyzed alongside endonyms and autonyms to understand linguistic exchange, historical relations, and the ongoing preference for local versus foreign names in maps, media, and official documents.