The Federal Republic of Germany is often referred to by various synonyms. One common alternate name is simply Germany. Another is the abbreviation FRG. In German, the country is known as "Bundesrepublik Deutschland." Some people also call it West Germany to distinguish it from the former East Germany, which was known as the German Democratic Republic (GDR). There are also regional terms that refer to specific parts of the country, such as Bavaria, Hesse, or Saxony. While all of these names and synonyms refer to the same country, they reflect different perspectives and levels of familiarity with Germany's geography and history.