Ичкерия

• According to one version, from Chechen Искаьрк (İskärk), a minor stream flowing into Belka, a tributary to Sunzha. The toponym was, however, originally an exonym to the Chechens, who referred to the landscape as Нохчи-мохк (Noxči-moxk, “Chechen lands”) instead^[1] and the form with a ч rather than with a с is likewise difficult to explain. Occasionally, the toponym has also been used in Russian 19th century-sources as Искерия (Iskerija), which is easier to reconcile with this etymology.^[2]

• An etymology going back to Chechen исс (iss, “nine”) with the overall meaning of "nine lands" has been proposed too (ibid.), but is likely a folk etymology.

• A likelier origin is the Kumyk ичгери (içgeri, “inner, interior”).

• IPA^(key): [ɪt͡ɕˈkʲerʲɪjə]

Ичке́рия • (Ičkérija) f inan (genitive Ичке́рии)

1. (historical) Ichkeria (a geographic region encompassing the highlands of eastern Chechnya, Russia)
2. (chiefly historical) Ichkeria (a former separatist state that controlled most of the modern republics of Chechnya and Ingushetia, Russia, from 1991 to 2000)

• ичкери́ец (ičkeríjec), ичкери́йка (ičkeríjka)
• ичкери́йский (ičkeríjskij), ичке́рский (ičkérskij)

• → English: Ichkeria