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noun Uncommon

Colombian

kuh-LUHM-bee-uhn

Colombian (noun) means a person from Colombia, the country in South America. Example: “His grandmother was Colombian and taught him to make arepas.”

noun
1
A person from Colombia, the country in South America.
"His grandmother was Colombian and taught him to make arepas."
adj
1
Relating to Colombia or its people and culture.
"They served rich Colombian coffee after dinner."
"The restaurant specializes in traditional Colombian dishes."

How to use Colombian

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSomeone or something from Colombia.

Easily confused with
colombino

Word forms

Colombians plural

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His grandmother was _____ and taught him to make arepas.

Etymology

Formed from the country name Colombia, itself named after explorer Christopher Columbus, plus the suffix "-an" meaning "of or belonging to."

Rhymes for Colombian

See all rhymes for Colombian →

Frequently asked questions

What does “Colombian” mean?

The word “Colombian” means a person from Colombia, the country in South America. In plain terms, someone or something from Colombia.

How do you pronounce “Colombian”?

“Colombian” is pronounced kuh-LUHM-bee-uhn (/kəˈlʌmbiən/ in IPA).

How do you use “Colombian” in a sentence?

Here is “Colombian” used in a sentence: “His grandmother was Colombian and taught him to make arepas.”

What part of speech is “Colombian”?

Depending on how it is used, “Colombian” can be a noun and an adjective.

Is “Colombian” a common word?

“Colombian” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “Colombian” have?

“Colombian” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a person from Colombia, the country in South America.

Is it spelled 'Colombian' or 'Columbian'?

'Colombian' is the correct spelling when referring to Colombia, the country in South America, or its people and culture. 'Columbian' is a common misspelling, often confused with the unrelated word 'Columbia,' which refers to different places and names, including Washington, D.C.'s district name.

Why is 'Colombian' always capitalized?

'Colombian' is capitalized because it is a proper adjective and noun derived from the country name Colombia, following the standard rule that nationalities and words relating to specific countries are capitalized in English.

Can 'Colombian' be used as both a noun and an adjective?

Yes, as a noun 'Colombian' refers to a person from Colombia, while as an adjective it describes something relating to Colombia or its people and culture, such as Colombian coffee or Colombian music.

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial