Mangyshlak and Mangystau – What's the Difference?

Mount Sherkala

What's the correct way to say it: Mangystau or Mangyshlak? What are the differences between these names? What do they mean, and where are they used? We’re here to answer these questions, ensuring you'll never mix up Mangystau and Mangyshlak again.

First off, there’s virtually no difference between Mangyshlak and Mangystau, with Mangystau being the modern name for the region in Kazakhstan, while Mangyshlak was used during the Soviet Union era. This situation mirrors others around the world, such as Königsberg and Kaliningrad, which are different names for the same city, or the Iberian and Pyrenean Peninsulas.

The term "Mangyshlak" comes from the Turkmen language, meaning "thousand kishlaks" (settlements), with 'mang' translating to 'thousand' and 'kishlak' referring specifically to a winter encampment for nomads, suggesting "thousand winter camps".

On the other hand, "Mangystau" translates from Kazakh as the "mountains of the Mangyts tribe". Historical records mention several Mangyt tribes in locations like Mongolia, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan. The suffix 'tau' indicates a mountain range, seen in other names like Alatau and Karatau. Yet, some historians believe that Mangystau could also mean "thousand roads" or "thousand settlements," aligning it with the Turkmen meaning of Mangyshlak.

It’s clear that Mangyshlak has Turkmen roots and Mangystau has Kazakh origins. Moreover, these territories have been a battleground between Kazakhs and Turkmens for centuries, with the area ultimately remaining within Kazakhstan. By the 19th century, Russians had established the name Mangyshlak for the region, a name that was commonly used for 150 years.

Today, the name Mangyshlak only persists in the name of the peninsula. Meanwhile, Mangystau refers to a region in southwestern Kazakhstan that encompasses the Mangyshlak Peninsula, the Ustyurt Plateau, and a portion of the Caspian Depression.

So, if someone asks where you captured those stunning photos with Martian-like landscapes, confidently answer that it was during your trip to Mangystau!