History of Oceania

How did Chile get its name?

There are several theories about how Chile got its name. One theory is that it comes from the indigenous Quechua word "chilli", which means "cold" or "frozen". This name may have been given to Chile because of its cold climate, especially in the Andes Mountains.

Another theory is that the name Chile comes from the indigenous Aymara word "chilli", which means "limit" or "boundary". This name may have been given to Chile because it was located at the southern boundary of the Inca Empire.

Finally, some believe that the name Chile comes from the indigenous Mapuche word "chilli", which means "people of the land". This name may have been given to Chile because it was the homeland of the Mapuche people.

The most likely explanation is that the name Chile comes from a combination of these different indigenous words. Over time, the name "Chile" became the commonly accepted name for the country.