angola
|an-go-la|
🇺🇸
/ænˈɡoʊlə/
🇬🇧
/ænˈɡəʊlə/
(Angola)
Southern African country on the Atlantic coast
Etymology
'Angola' originates from Kimbundu, specifically the word 'ngola,' where the title 'ngola' meant 'ruler' or 'king'.
'ngola' was adopted into Portuguese as 'Angola' (as in 'Reino de Angola') and eventually entered English as 'Angola'.
Initially, it referred to the ruler’s title and by extension the region/kingdom; over time it became the name of the colonial territory and the modern state.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a country on the west coast of southern Africa; official name the Republic of Angola; capital Luanda.
angola is a major oil producer in southern Africa.
Synonyms
Noun 2
informal US: The Louisiana State Penitentiary, nicknamed “Angola.”
He spent 10 years at angola before being paroled.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/08/09 11:07