Westphalia is a region of northwestern Germany. In the eastern part of Germany we find Eastphalia. In German the two regions are called "Westfalen" and "Ostfalen". Now we open the dictionary and read that the word "falen" is derived from old north Germanic dialects and more specifically from the word "falah".

According to the dictionnary "falah" is related to the German words "Feld", "Flach", "pflanzen" and "pfelegen" and means plain. So my interpretation of the two words Westphalia and Eastphalia would be plain of the west and plain of the east.

However I find it interesting that "falah" is used in Arabic as a synonym for "farmer" or "planter".

What is your opinion on that ?

Question

Westphalia is a region of northwestern Germany. In the eastern part of Germany we find Eastphalia. In German the two regions are called "Westfalen" and "Ostfalen". Now we open the dictionary and read that the word "falen" is derived from old north Germanic dialects and more specifically from the word "falah".

According to the dictionnary "falah" is related to the German words "Feld", "Flach", "pflanzen" and "pfelegen" and means plain. So my interpretation of the two words Westphalia and Eastphalia would be plain of the west and plain of the east.
 
However I find it interesting that "falah" is used in Arabic as a synonym for "farmer" or "planter".

What is your opinion on that ?

Answer

It's probably just a coincidence, although someone else might know better...

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