# Why is Uruguay a funny name ?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-uruguay-a-funny-name/173988
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [May 8, 2003, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-uruguay-a-funny-name/173988 "2003-05-08T22:35:29Z")
**Posts on this page:** 9
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@lurker\_anonymous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lurker_anonymous)
#### Post date: [May 10, 2003, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-uruguay-a-funny-name/173988/21 "2003-05-10T03:26:47Z")
it sounds like a pig latin word (ie ‘pig’ becomes ig pay)…
thats why we (here in my little corner of the living room) liked saddams sons names so much-uday and (?) qusay… they vaguely sound like pig latin. just my…H.O.
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### Author:  [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)
#### Post date: [May 10, 2003, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-uruguay-a-funny-name/173988/22 "2003-05-10T04:09:22Z")
> [@](#):
>
> Beware, I’m sure that wherever you are, there MUST be an uruguayan not very far…
Another one here… we´re watching you. 🆒
As for the Homer incident; I thought it was funny. But I feel a bit depressed by the trend to only mention Uruguay when some disaster happens… ☹
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### Author:  [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)
#### Post date: [May 10, 2003, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-uruguay-a-funny-name/173988/23 "2003-05-10T04:36:04Z")
> [@](#):
>
> _Originally posted by pol3925_
> I’ve seen the name Uruguay used in many movies also, when they need a FAR and Unknown place to mention.
Irkutsk, on the shore of lake Baikal, is also used that way.
I wonder how the Irkutsians (?) feel about that ?
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### Author:  [@ChaosGod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChaosGod)
#### Post date: [May 10, 2003, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-uruguay-a-funny-name/173988/24 "2003-05-10T05:42:26Z")
I once saw a movie where a reporter said that he had been in Uruguay, covering an earthquake that had killed many indians !!
A) NO EARTHQUAKES, EVER!
B) NO INDIANS. NOT ONE !
A small portion of the population has a fraction of indian blood. No hard facts on it either. I once saw a documentary on a half-charruan indian, long time ago.
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### Author:  [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)
#### Post date: [May 10, 2003, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-uruguay-a-funny-name/173988/25 "2003-05-10T07:41:14Z")
Hey, it could be worse. You could live on the shores of Lake Titicaca. 😃
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### Author:  [@donkeyoatey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/donkeyoatey)
#### Post date: [May 10, 2003, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-uruguay-a-funny-name/173988/26 "2003-05-10T08:20:21Z")
Yeah, but the Timbuktusians are kicking up their heels.
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### Author:  [@Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speaker_for_the_Dead)
#### Post date: [May 10, 2003, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-uruguay-a-funny-name/173988/27 "2003-05-10T15:32:25Z")
Everyone knows that the Timbuktaqis are passe.
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### Author:  [@Rusalka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rusalka)
#### Post date: [May 10, 2003, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-uruguay-a-funny-name/173988/28 "2003-05-10T18:23:59Z")
so what does the “-guay” mean in Paraguay and Uraguay? River?
Why does this root show up in the names of two South American countries? They aren’t even next to each other…
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### Author:  [@ChaosGod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChaosGod)
#### Post date: [May 10, 2003, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-uruguay-a-funny-name/173988/29 "2003-05-10T21:06:13Z")
The language is guarani, which was spoken by natives of the same name. They where distibuted over a large area. There where others of course. The charrua for example where local to Uruguay only.
doing a google search I found this:
Para = sea
gua = origin
y = river
I have to deduce that “Uru” means birds
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