Sumer
The term "Sumerian" is the common name given to the ancient non-Semitic inhabitants of Mesopotamia, Sumer, by the Semitic Akkadians. The Sumerians referred to themselves as ug sag gig-ga (cuneiform:    ), phonetically /uNG saNG giga/, literally meaning "the black-headed people", and to their land as ki-en-gi(-r) ('place' + 'lords' + 'noble'), meaning "place of the noble lords". The Akkadian word Shumer may represent the geographical name in dialect, but the phonological development leading to the Akkadian term sumeru is uncertain. Hebrew Shinar, Egyptian Sngr, and Hittite Sanhar(a), all referring to southern Mesopotamia, could be western variants of Shumer.
What did the Sumerians refer to themselves as in their language?
"the black-headed people"
The Sumerians referred to themselves as ug sag gig-ga (cuneiform:    ), phonetically /uNG saNG giga/, literally meaning "the black-headed people", and to their land as ki-en-gi(-r) ('place' + 'lords' + 'noble'), meaning "place of the noble lords".
the Sumerians