Wal/Gal

Many region names (and some place names) in Europe derive from the original Germanic word for stranger or foreigner, rendered as "wal" or "gal" (and variations). In the original Germanic languages, the letters w and g were quite interchangeable. (For instance, the Germanic Normans said 'guardian', 'guerre' and 'guiliam' whereas the Anglo-Saxons used 'warden', 'war' and 'william').

"Gal/Wal" especially came to mean "strangers at the edge of (our) region". Examples of place/region names deriving this way include:-

• Wales
• Wallonia (Belgium)
• Galway (Ireland)
• Galloway (Scotland)
• Wallachia (Romania)
• Cornwall (England)

Some non-Germanic languages adopted this Germanic root. The Scottish Gaelic term for the Outer Hebrides is Innse-Gall. For an explanation of often confusing terms such as Great Britain, Britain, United Kingdom and England, see British Isles (terminology). ... Wallonia (French: Wallonie) or the Walloon Region (French: Région Wallonne) is the predominantly French-speaking region that constitutes one of the three federal regions of Belgium, with its capital at Namur. ... Galway (official Irish name: Gaillimh) is the only city in the province of Connacht in Ireland and capital of County Galway. ... Galloway (Scottish Gaelic, Gall-ghaidhealaibh or Gallobha, Lowland Scots Gallowa) today refers to the former counties of Wigtownshire and the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright in southwest Scotland, but has fluctuated greatly in size over history. ... Map of Romania with Wallachia in yellow. ... Motto: Onen hag oll (Cornish: One and all) Geography Status Ceremonial and (smaller) Non-metropolitan county Region South West England Population - Total (2004 est. ... The Outer Hebrides or Western Isles (officially known by their Gaelic name, Na h-Eileanan Siar, changed under The Local Government (Gaelic Names) (Scotland) Act 1997) comprise an island chain off the west coast of Scotland. ...