Congo
Congo (name) means a region and major river system in Central Africa, and the name shared by two neighbouring countries: the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo. Example: “The Congo River is the second-longest river in Africa.”
How to use Congo
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe name of a river, region, and two Central African countries.
Word forms
Congos plural, Congos plural
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ River is the second-longest river in Africa.
Etymology
After Kongo, from Kongo nkongo (“hunter”). Compare Kongo dikongo (“spear”), Zulu umkhonto, Proto-Bantu *mʊ̀kóndó.
Rhymes for Congo
See all rhymes for Congo →Frequently asked questions
What does “Congo” mean?
The word “Congo” means a region and major river system in Central Africa, and the name shared by two neighbouring countries: the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo. In plain terms, the name of a river, region, and two Central African countries.
How do you pronounce “Congo”?
“Congo” is pronounced KONG-goh (/ˈkɑŋɡoʊ/ in IPA).
How do you use “Congo” in a sentence?
Here is “Congo” used in a sentence: “The Congo River is the second-longest river in Africa.”
What part of speech is “Congo”?
“Congo” is a name.
Is “Congo” a common word?
“Congo” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo?
Congo can refer informally to the region, the river, or either of two separate countries, while the Democratic Republic of the Congo is the formal name of the larger of those two neighbouring countries. The smaller neighbouring country is formally called the Republic of the Congo.
Why are there two countries both called Congo?
Both the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo are named after the Congo River and region in Central Africa that they share a border along. Because both nations take their names from the same river system, the shorter name Congo is ambiguous between them.
Is Congo the name of a river or a country?
Congo can refer to both, since it is the name of a major river system in Central Africa as well as the shortened name shared by the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo. Context usually makes clear whether the river, the region, or one of the countries is meant.
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