tizi

Tizi is a toponymic element in Berber languages that means “mountain pass” or “col.” It is used in the names of geographic features and settlements across North Africa, reflecting the region’s mountainous terrain. In Berber toponymy, tizi typically appears as part of compound place names that describe the landscape or a route through it.

The distribution of Tizi-based names is strongest in Algeria and Morocco, particularly in the Atlas Mountains and surrounding areas, as well as in the Kabylie region of northern Algeria. These names appear in both rural and urban settings and often retain historical significance for local communities.

One of the best-known uses is Tizi Ouzou, a city in the Kabylie region of northern Algeria. The name is linked to a nearby mountain pass and is a central reference in the area’s geography and history.

Beyond Tizi Ouzou, numerous passes and settlements across the Atlas and Tell regions bear the element Tizi in their names, illustrating how geography shapes toponymy in Berber-speaking areas. In modern times, the term also appears in road and transit nomenclature, frequently denoting passes along routes.

See also: Tizi (disambiguation).