Kunashir

K5U1N1A1S1H4I1R1

proper noun

The southernmost island of the Kuril Islands, disputed between Japan and Russia.

OriginJapanese 国後 ← Russian Кунаши́р ← Ainu クンネ シㇼ →
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Meanings

proper noun

alternative Japanese Kunashiri

  1. The southernmost island of the Kuril Islands, disputed between Japan and Russia.

Origin

  1. Ainuキナ シㇼ
  2. Ainuクンネ シㇼ
  3. RussianКунаши́р
  4. Japanese国後
  5. EnglishKunashir

Borrowed from Japanese 国後 (Kunashiri) or Russian Кунаши́р (Kunašír). Ultimately from Ainu クンネ シㇼ (kunne sir), meaning "black island"; or Ainu キナ シㇼ (kina sir), meaning "grass island".

More words from Japanese, Russian, Ainu

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

unrakish
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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