Can You Guess the Correct Spelling of These Countries?

By: Allison Lips
Estimated Completion Time
3 min
Can You Guess the Correct Spelling of These Countries?
Image: Piskunov/E+/Getty Images

About This Quiz

It's hard to get a straight answer as to how many countries there are in the world. According to the United Nations, there are currently 193 UN members and two UN Observer States for a total of 195 countries. However, Taiwan, Western Sahara, Kosovo, South Ossetia, Abkhazia, and Northern Cyprus are not recognized by the United Nations, but are recognized by one to over 100 countries. 

With all the wars, secessionist activities, peaceful dissolution of countries, and any other activity that may result in a new country's birth, the map may not look like it did the last time you studied geography. If you were born after the fall of the Soviet Union or the split of Yugoslavia, the map you studied had countries that didn't exist when your parents were in school and your kids will probably study a different map. 

On top of the sheer volume of countries, many countries have multiple recognized names and former names. Other countries have names that have a special meaning to their citizens and have spellings that may make sense in the native languages, but are not intuitive for native English speakers. 

Do you know how to spell every country from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe? Challenge yourself with this quiz! 

How do you spell the landlocked country in Central Europe that is located between Switzerland and Austria?
Letchenstien
Liechtinstien
Leichtensten
Liechtenstein
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

As stated in the Constitution of Liechtenstein, the national church of Liechtenstein is the Roman Catholic church. However, as of December 20, 2012, any citizen over the age of 14 can choose their own religion.

Advertisement

What is the proper spelling of the country that has Moscow as its capital?
Russia
Rusia
Rusha
Rushia
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Russia spans 11 time zones. It also occupies one-tenth of Earth's land. A small part of Russia is in Europe, while the rest of the land is in Asia.

Advertisement

What is the correct spelling of the long thin country on South America's west coast?
Chili
Chilli
Chile
Chilly
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Chile is 2,700 miles long. It's average width is 110 miles. At its widest, the country is 217 miles across.

Advertisement

How do you properly spell the Southeast Asian country that has been occupied by Japan and The United States?
Philipines
Phillappines
Philippines
Phillipines
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Philippines consists of at least 7,100 islands. The country's capital is Manila. Its most populous city is Quezon City.

Advertisement

Which spelling is correct for the country that gave us the first Olympics?
Greace
Grease
Greece
Griece
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Olympia was the site of the first Olympics in 776 BC. Events at the first Olympics included the pentathlon, discus throw, wrestling, boxing, and various equestrian events.

Advertisement

What is the correct spelling of the country that the Andes mountains separate from Chile?
Aregintina
Argintina
Aregentina
Argentina
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Argentina's name comes from the word "argentum," which is Latin for silver. The country's name has its origin in a story about Juan Diaz de Solis and his crew finding indigenous people who gave them silver objects as presents.

Advertisement

Which spelling is correct for the country that borders Brazil, Argentina, and the Atlantic Ocean?
Uragauy
Uruguay
Urugauy
Ureguay
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Uruguay is the second smallest country in South America. It has a population of over 3.4 million people.

Advertisement

What is the correct spelling of the country Borat is from?
Kazahkstan
Kazakhstan
Kazakhistan
Kazackistan
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Astana is the capital of Kazakhstan. It was formely called Tselinograd.

Advertisement

How do you properly spell the Central American country that has the nickname "The Land of Lakes and Volcanoes?"
Nickaragua
Nicaragua
Necaragua
Nicaraggua
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Nicaragua's capital is Managua. Over 1.5 million people live in the city.

Advertisement

What is the correct spelling for the country that is also a continent?
Australia
Awestralia
Australiya
Austria
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Australian Outback covers over 2.5 million square miles of the island continent. Even though the country is home to more than 23 million people, less than five percent of the population lives in the Outback.

Advertisement

What is the proper spelling for the European landlocked country that is 998 square miles?
Luxembourg
Luxemburg
Luxemberg
Luxemborg
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Luxembourg is the only Grand Duchy in the world. It is also the fifth-wealthiest country.

Advertisement

How do you correctly spell the nation that dissolved in the early 1990s?
Yugislavia
Yugoslaiva
Yugoslava
Yugoslavia
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Yugoslavia existed from 1918 to 1992. In 1992, it broke up into Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Slovenia.

Advertisement

What is the correct spelling of the Central Asian country with Bishkek as its capital?
Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgizstan
Kirgyzstan
Kirgizstan
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

From 1862 to 1926, Bishkek was known as Pishpek. It was renamed Frunze from 1925 to 1991 before the capital of Kyrgyzstan was given its current name.

Advertisement

Which spelling is correct for the country with Sarajevo as its capital?
Bosnya and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovnia
Bosnia and Herzgovnia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Bosnia is the central and northern parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The southern and southwestern parts are Herzegovina.

Advertisement

What is the current proper spelling for the African country that has Kigali as its capital?
Ruanda
Rwanda
Ruandia
Rwandia
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The official language of Rwanda is Kinyarwanda. The country's name means "domain" in Kinyarwanda.

Advertisement

How do you spell the name of the country that has its capital on a plateau in the northern Andes Mountains?
Colombya
Columbya
Colombia
Columbia
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Colombia's capital is Bogata. It is bordered by the Pacific Ocean, Panama, Venezuela, Brazil, Peru, and Ecuador.

Advertisement

What is the correct spelling of the country that gained independence from France in 1962?
Algeria
Aljeria
Algiria
Aljiria
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Algeria is the largest country in Africa. It is also the tenth largest in the world.

Advertisement

What is the proper spelling of the country formerly known as Belorussia?
Bellarius
Belarius
Bellarus
Belarus
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Since July 20, 1994, Alexander Lukashenko has been president of Belarus. He is the first and only person to hold the office so far.

Advertisement

Which spelling is correct for a former Soviet Republic?
Azerbeygen
Azerbaigen
Azerbaijan
Aserbaijan
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Following the collapse of the Russian Empire, Azerbaijan was independent from 1918 to 1920. The country joined the Soviet Union in 1920 and was a part of it until 1991.

Advertisement

How do you spell one half of the former Czechoslovakia?
Chech Republic
Cheque Republic
Czech Republic
Check Republic
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Czech Republic is also called Czechia, which was informally adopted in 2016. The historical provinces of Bohemia, Moravia, and the southern tip of Silesia comprise the Czech Republic.

Advertisement

What is the correct English spelling of the country called Magyarország in its native language?
Hungry
Hungary
Hungery
Hungray
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

After World War I, Hungary lost 71 percent of its territory. The agreement is called the Treaty of Trianon because it was signed at Trianon Palace in Versailles, France.

Advertisement

How do you properly spell the country between Iraq and Saudi Arabia?
Kuwait
Kewait
Kuwiat
Cuwait
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Sabah dynasty has ruled Kuwait since 1756. The country was a British protectorate from 1899 to 1961.

Advertisement

What is the proper spelling for an island country located off the coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean?
Mauritius
Maurytius
Muaritus
Mauratius
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

On March 12, 1968, Mauritius gained its independence form the United Kingdom. The country became a republic on March 12, 1992.

Advertisement

Which spelling is correct for the country that has a capital called Victoria?
Seaycheles
Seycheles
Saychelles
Seychelles
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Seychelles' capital is located on Mahe. Victoria has a population of over 25,000 people.

Advertisement

What spelling is correct for the country that is 1,090 miles east of Australia?
Vanuatu
Venuatu
Vanautu
Venautu
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Vanuatu has a population of over 200,000 people. The country consists of 93 islands, but only 65 of the islands are inhabited.

Advertisement

How do you properly spell the country that has London as its capital?
England
Angland
Englind
Ingland
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

England takes up more than half the land of Great Britain. The island of Great Britain is also home to Scotland and Wales.

Advertisement

Which is the correct spelling for the European country that is landlocked between Poland, Ukraine, Hungary, and Austria?
Slovikia
Slovekia
Slovakya
Slovakia
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

From 1918 to 1992, Slovakia was part of Czechoslovakia. The capital of Slovakia is Bratislava.

Advertisement

How do you correctly spell the name of the country formerly known as Ceylon?
Sree Lanka
Sri Lanka
Shri Lanka
Sre Lanka
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

After 150 years of British rule, Sri Lanka gained its independence from Britain. It remains part of the Commonwealth.

Advertisement

What is the proper spelling for the country that has Valetta as its capital?
Malltya
Maltya
Mallta
Malta
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Malta is located 50 miles south of Italy. It is a member of the Commonwealth and the European Union.

Advertisement

Which spelling is correct for a former part of Yugoslavia?
Macedonya
Macedonia
Massedonia
Macidonia
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Macedonia is located in Southeastern Europe. The country's capital is Skopje.

Advertisement

What is the correct spelling of the African country that became independent from the United Kingdom on March 6, 1957?
Gaana
Ghaana
Gana
Ghana
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Ghana was formed from the merger of the Togoland trust territory and the Gold Coast. It was the first sub-Saharan colonial country to gain independence.

Advertisement

How do you properly spell the United States' northern neighbor?
Kanadia
Canadia
Kanada
Canada
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Canada consists of 10 provinces and three territories. In total, the country is 3.85 million square miles.

Advertisement

What is the correct spelling of a landlocked nation located in the Eastern Himalayas?
Bhutan
Button
Bhuten
Bhootan
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Bhutan's capital is Thimphu. The country's official language is Dzongkha.

Advertisement

Which spelling is the proper one for an island at the southern end of the Grenadines island chain?
Greenada
Grenadea
Grenayda
Grenada
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The capital of Grenada is St. George's. The country has a population of over 107,000 people.

Advertisement

Which spelling is correct for a Middle Eastern country that borders Syria, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Israel?
Jordan
Jordyn
Jordin
Joredan
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The official name of Jordan is Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The population of Jordan is approximately 10 million people.

Advertisement

You Got:
/35
Piskunov/E+/Getty Images