Congo
|Con-go|
🇺🇸
/ˈkɑŋɡoʊ/
🇬🇧
/ˈkɒŋɡəʊ/
Name of a Central African river/region
Etymology
'Congo' originates from the Kikongo name 'Kongo', the name of the Kongo people and their kingdom; European record of the name came via Portuguese.
'Congo' was recorded by Portuguese explorers as 'Congo' and entered other European languages; the name was later applied to the river, the surrounding basin/region, and ultimately to modern states.
Initially it referred to the people and the Kingdom of Kongo, but over time it also came to denote the river, the geographic region (the Congo Basin), and the modern countries called Congo.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the Congo River, a major river in Central Africa (often called simply 'the Congo').
The Congo is one of Africa's great rivers.
Synonyms
Noun 2
the Republic of the Congo, a country in Central Africa (often called Congo-Brazzaville; capital: Brazzaville).
Congo gained independence from France in 1960.
Synonyms
Noun 3
the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a larger country in Central Africa (often abbreviated DRC; capital: Kinshasa; formerly called Zaire).
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is rich in mineral resources.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/09/17 18:40