You're reading: Associated Press: What does EuroMaidan mean?

Soon after the current wave of protests arose in Ukraine, a new word appeared to describe them: Euromaidan. Already in wide use as a hashtag on Twitter, it's an intriguing invention — linguistically rooted in both East and West, elusive to translate and an insightful glimpse into the country's troubled politics. Who coined it isn't clear, and it's become so popular that it seems almost to have sprung from the collective unconscious.

The first part, “Euro,” is clear on the surface: Europe. “Maidan” is
obscure to Western ears — it’s a word of Persian origin, which likely
entered Ukraine via the Ottomans, meaning “square” or “open place.”
However, translating it as “Europesquare” would be technically accurate
but emotionally impoverished because both elements mean much more. 

Read full story here