structural:summarization, stylistic:tone
Etymology

The country name of Uruguay derives from the namesake Río Uruguay, from the Indigenous Guaraní language. There are several interpretations, including "bird-river" ("the river of the uru, via Charruan, urú being a common noun of any wild fowl). The name could also refer to a river snail called uruguá (Pomella megastoma) that was plentiful across its shores.

One of the most popular interpretations of the name was proposed by the renowned Uruguayan poet Juan Zorrilla de San Martín, "the river of painted birds"; this interpretation, although dubious, still holds an important cultural significance in the country.

In Spanish colonial times, and for some time thereafter, Uruguay and some neighboring territories were called Banda Oriental ("Eastern Bank "), then for a few years the " Eastern Province ". Since its independence, the country has been known as " República Oriental del Uruguay ", which literally translates to " Republic East of the Uruguay ". However, it is officially translated either as the " Oriental Republic of Uruguay " or the " Eastern Republic of Uruguay ".