Bactria

B3A1C3T1R1I1A1
UK/ˈbæktɹɪə/

proper noun

The ancient name of the country between the range of the Hindu Kush and the Amu Darya in West Asia, encompassing parts of northern Afghanistan, eastern Turkmenistan, southern Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and northern Pakistan.

OriginLatin Bactria ← Ancient Greek Βακτρίᾱ ← Old Persian 𐎲𐎠𐎧𐎫𐎼𐎡𐏁 →
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Meanings

proper noun

alternative Bactriana · alternative Bakhtar · alternative Bahlika · alternative Vahlika · alternative Ta-Hia

  1. The ancient name of the country between the range of the Hindu Kush and the Amu Darya in West Asia, encompassing parts of northern Afghanistan, eastern Turkmenistan, southern Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and northern Pakistan.

Origin

  1. Old Persian𐎲𐎠𐎧𐎫𐎼𐎡𐏁
  2. Ancient GreekΒακτρίᾱ
  3. LatinBactria
  4. EnglishBactria

From Latin Bactria, from Ancient Greek Βακτρίᾱ (Baktríā), from Old Persian 𐎲𐎠𐎧𐎫𐎼𐎡𐏁 (b-a-x-t-r-i-š /⁠bâxtriš⁠/). Compare Persian باختر (bâxtar) and Hindi बाख़्त्र (bāxtra), बाख़्तर (bāxtar).

More words from Latin, Ancient Greek, Old Persian

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Ancient Greek Βακτρίᾱ
  • Βακτρίᾱ (Baktríā)Greek name for ancient country
Arabic طخارستان, تخارستان
  • طخارستانGreek name for ancient country
  • تخارستانGreek name for ancient country
Bulgarian Бактрия
  • Бактрия (Baktrija)Greek name for ancient country
Chinese Mandarin 大夏
  • 大夏 (Dàxià)Greek name for ancient country
Danish Baktrien
  • BaktrienGreek name for ancient country
Finnish Baktria
  • BaktriaGreek name for ancient country
French Bactriane, Bactrie
  • BactrianeGreek name for ancient country
  • BactrieGreek name for ancient country
German Baktrien
  • BaktrienGreek name for ancient country
Greek Βακτρία
  • Βακτρία (Vaktría)Greek name for ancient country
Hindi बाख़्त्र, बाख़्तर
  • बाख़्त्र (bāxtra)Greek name for ancient country
  • बाख़्तर (bāxtar)Greek name for ancient country
  • बॅक्ट्रिया (bĕkṭriyā)Greek name for ancient country
  • बाह्लिक (bāhlik)Greek name for ancient country
  • बाह्लीक (bāhlīk)Greek name for ancient country
  • वाह्लिक (vāhlik)Greek name for ancient country
  • वाह्लीक (vāhlīk)Greek name for ancient country
Hungarian Baktria
  • BaktriaGreek name for ancient country
Irish an Bhaictria
  • an BhaictriaGreek name for ancient country
Italian Battria
  • BattriaGreek name for ancient country
Latin Bactria
  • BactriaGreek name for ancient country
Persian باختر, بلخ
  • باختر (bâxtar)Greek name for ancient country
  • بلخ (balx)Greek name for ancient country
  • طخارستان (toxârestân)Greek name for ancient country
  • تخارستان (toxârestân)Greek name for ancient country
Polish Baktria
  • BaktriaGreek name for ancient country
Portuguese Báctria
  • BáctriaGreek name for ancient country
Romanian Bactria
  • BactriaGreek name for ancient country
Russian Бактрия, Бактриана
  • Бактрия (Baktrija)Greek name for ancient country
  • Бактриана (Baktriana)Greek name for ancient country
Spanish Bactriana
  • BactrianaGreek name for ancient country
Turkish Baktria
  • BaktriaGreek name for ancient country
Urdu باختر
  • باختر (bāxtar)Greek name for ancient country
Cite this entry
APA

Bactria. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Bactria

MLA

“Bactria.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Bactria. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Bactria,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Bactria.

Source: Bactria on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.