Etymology
The name Dnieper is derived from Iranic Sarmatian Dānu apara "the river on the far side". (By contrast, the Dniester derives from "the close river".)
In the three countries through which it flows it has essentially the same name, albeit pronounced differently:
- Russian: Днепр (Dnepr, );
- Belarusian: Дняпро (Dniapro, );
- Ukrainian: Днiпро (Dnipro, ).
The river is mentioned by the Ancient Greek historian Herodotus in the 5th century BC as Borysthenes (Βορυσθένης), as well as by Strabo; this name is Scythian (cf. Iranian *varu-stāna) and translates as "wide land", referring most likely to the Ukrainian steppe. The late Greek and Roman authors called it Δάναπρις - Danapris and Danaper respectively - (dana in Old Persian meant "river"); The name Dnieper probably derives from that Greek word. Its Old East Slavic name used at the time of Kievan Rus' was Slavuta or Slavutych, the Huns called it Var, and Bulgars - Buri-Chai. The name in Crimean Tatar: Özü.
Read more about this topic: Dnieper River
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