English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
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.
"He grew up in a small village in Cameroon."

How to Use Cameroon

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe Central African country named after prawns found by early Portuguese explorers.

Word Forms

Cameroons plural, Cameroons plural

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “Cameroon” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

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.

Origin: Portuguese · First attested 1400

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.

Featured In

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial