name
Zaire
zeye-EER
name
1
The former name of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, used from 1971 to 1997.
"The country was known as Zaire under President Mobutu's rule."
2
Another name for the Congo River, the major river of Central Africa.
"Cargo boats have carried goods along the Zaire for generations."
noun
1
The unit of currency used in Zaire from 1967 to 1998.
"Runaway inflation made the zaire almost worthless by the early 1990s."
How to Use Zaire
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe old name for both the country now called the DR Congo and its currency.
Easily confused with
Word Forms
zaires plural, zaire plural
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “Zaire”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The country was known as _____ under President Mobutu's rule.
Etymology
A shortened form of the Kongo phrase "nzadi o nzere," meaning "the river that swallows all rivers," referring to the Congo River; adopted as the country's name under Mobutu's Authenticity Movement.