name
Uncommon
Cameroon
ka-muh-ROON
Cameroon (name) means a country in Central Africa whose capital is Yaoundé. Example: “He grew up in a small village in Cameroon.”
name
1
A country in Central Africa whose capital is Yaoundé.
"Security officials say such a move makes it easy for Boko Haram to infiltrate Cameroon and gather vital security information."
— Ngala Killian Chimtom, Cameroon in for long fight as its youth join Boko Haram (2015)
"He grew up in a small village in Cameroon."
How to use Cameroon
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe Central African country named after prawns found by early Portuguese explorers.
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Word forms
- Plural
- Cameroons
Fill the gap
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He grew up in a small village in _____.
Etymology
From Portuguese Rio dos Camarões ("river of prawns"), named by 15th-century Portuguese sailors for the shrimp abundant in the Wouri river estuary.
Class of 1400
Cameroon joined the language around 1400.
See the full Class of 1400 →
Rhymes for Cameroon
See all rhymes for Cameroon →Frequently asked questions
What does “Cameroon” mean?
The word “Cameroon” means a country in Central Africa whose capital is Yaoundé. In plain terms, the Central African country named after prawns found by early Portuguese explorers.
How do you pronounce “Cameroon”?
“Cameroon” is pronounced ka-muh-ROON (/kæməˈɹuːn/ in IPA).
How do you use “Cameroon” in a sentence?
Here is “Cameroon” used in a sentence: “He grew up in a small village in Cameroon.”
What part of speech is “Cameroon”?
“Cameroon” is a name.
Where does the word “Cameroon” come from?
The word “Cameroon” dates back to around 1400 and comes from Portuguese. From Portuguese Rio dos Camarões ("river of prawns"), named by 15th-century Portuguese sailors for the shrimp abundant in the Wouri river estuary.
Is “Cameroon” a common word?
“Cameroon” is an uncommon word in modern English.
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