name
Common
Kenya
KEHN-yuh
Kenya (name) means a country in East Africa, known for its wildlife and coastline on the Indian Ocean; also used as a feminine given name. Example: “They went on safari in Kenya last summer.”
name
1
A country in East Africa, known for its wildlife and coastline on the Indian Ocean; also used as a feminine given name.
"Thomas was born in 1986, at a US military hospital in Frankfurt, Germany, to a mother born in Kenya and a US citizen father who eventually spent more than a decade in the military, where he repaired Army helicopters."
— Zoe Sottile (2025)
"They went on safari in Kenya last summer."
"The object of the builders was to push on to Uganda as quickly as possible; one result was that Kenya was "discovered" on the way."
— Timothy H. Cobb, The Kenya-Uganda Railway (1950)
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Etymology
Named after Mount Kenya, whose own name has several proposed origins: from Kikuyu kere nyaga ("white mountain"), because the peak is snow-capped; from Kamba kii nyaa ("ostrich mountain"); or from Kikuyu kĩrĩma ("mountain").
Rhymes for Kenya
See all rhymes for Kenya →Frequently asked questions
What does “Kenya” mean?
The word “Kenya” means a country in East Africa, known for its wildlife and coastline on the Indian Ocean; also used as a feminine given name.
How do you pronounce “Kenya”?
“Kenya” is pronounced KEHN-yuh (/ˈkɛn.jə/ in IPA).
How do you use “Kenya” in a sentence?
Here is “Kenya” used in a sentence: “They went on safari in Kenya last summer.”
What part of speech is “Kenya”?
“Kenya” is a name.
Is “Kenya” a common word?
“Kenya” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between "Kenya" and "Kenyan"?
"Kenya" is the name of the East African country, while "Kenyan" is the adjective and the word for a person from Kenya. You visit Kenya, and a Kenyan is someone who lives there or holds its nationality.
Where is Kenya located?
Kenya is a country in East Africa with a coastline on the Indian Ocean. It is well known for its wildlife and its beaches along the ocean.
Is "Kenya" only a place name?
No. Besides being the East African country, "Kenya" is also used as a feminine given name. Context usually makes clear whether it refers to the nation or to a person.
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