adj
Very common
African
AF-rih-kuhn
African (adj) means relating to or coming from the continent of Africa. Example: “African wildlife includes elephants, lions, and giraffes.”
adj
1
Relating to or coming from the continent of Africa.
"African wildlife includes elephants, lions, and giraffes."
"She studies African history at university."
noun
1
A person from Africa, or a person of African descent.
"Many Africans speak more than one language."
"The conference brought together Africans from dozens of countries."
How to use African
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo do with Africa or its people.
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Word forms
- Plural
- Africans
- Comparative
- more African
- Superlative
- most African
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_____ wildlife includes elephants, lions, and giraffes.
Etymology
From Latin Africanus, built from Afri, an ancient name for the peoples living near Carthage in what is now Tunisia.
Rhymes for African
See all rhymes for African →Frequently asked questions
What does “African” mean?
The word “African” means relating to or coming from the continent of Africa. In plain terms, to do with Africa or its people.
How do you pronounce “African”?
“African” is pronounced AF-rih-kuhn (/ˈæf.ɹɪ.kən/ in IPA).
How do you use “African” in a sentence?
Here is “African” used in a sentence: “African wildlife includes elephants, lions, and giraffes.”
What part of speech is “African”?
Depending on how it is used, “African” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “African” come from?
The word “African” comes from Latin. From Latin Africanus, built from Afri, an ancient name for the peoples living near Carthage in what is now Tunisia.
Is “African” a common word?
“African” is a very common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “African” have?
“African” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relating to or coming from the continent of Africa.
Is 'African' a nationality?
No. Africa is a continent made up of 54 recognised countries, so 'African' is not a single nationality. People from the continent hold specific nationalities — Nigerian, Kenyan, Egyptian, and so on. African is a broad term describing the continent, its peoples, cultures, and origins, not one country or passport.
What is the difference between 'African' and 'African American'?
African relates to the continent of Africa and the people, cultures, and things that come from it. African American refers specifically to Americans who have African ancestry, usually citizens of the United States. So one describes the continent broadly, while the other names a particular community within American society.
How many countries does 'African' cover?
The term spans the whole continent, which has 54 fully recognised sovereign countries, from Egypt and Morocco in the north to South Africa at the tip. Africa is enormously diverse, with thousands of languages and cultures, so 'African' is a broad umbrella rather than a single, uniform identity.
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