Congo
/ˈkɒŋ.ɡoʊ/noun
A major river in central Africa, the surrounding region, and the name of two African countries.
Did you know?The name Congo comes from the Kongo people and their kingdom, and European maps later stretched it onto the river and region, turning a local royal name into a global geographic label.
Etymological Timeline
Pre-15th Century
Kikongo
Kongo
“The name of the Kongo people and their kingdom in west-central Africa.”
15th Century
Portuguese
Congo
“Portuguese rendering of the Kongo kingdom and people’s name.”
16th–17th Century
European
Congo
“Used on maps and in travel accounts for the great river and the wider region associated with the kingdom.”
19th Century
English
Congo
“The established English name for the river and central African region.”
20th Century
English
Congo
“Used in the names of the Republic of the Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.”