What nicknames does/can Europe have?

7 comments

1. Occident

   In German, we say *das Abendland — evening land*.

2. In German it’s sometimes (mostly in historical context) called the Abendland (evening land) or Okzident as opposed to the Morgenland (morning land) or Orient which is the middle east/west asia.

3. For us “occident” is usually what Western Europe is referred as. We just call it “the old continent” sometimes.

4. In Ireland, the European mainland is usually just called “The Continent”

5. Stara celina, meaning “old continent”, so the same like you said. It is eurocentric, but it is the only nickname I could think of that is still being used sometimes.

6. In Greek, it’s known as γηραιά ήπειρος (old continent). *Western* Europe in particular can be called Εσπερία (evening [land]) or Φραγκιά (Francia).

   I’d say that only old continent and evening land are in current use – Francia became (or always was) too derogatory. When intentionally derogatory, one can call Western Europeans *Franks* (Φράγκοι) still.

7. Il vecchio continente – the old continent
   Il vecchio mondo – the old world

   but these are rare, usually people here simply say Europe (“l’Europa”)