Guinea-Bissau
/ˌɡɪniə bɪˈsaʊ/noun
A country on the west coast of Africa, bordered by Senegal and Guinea.
Did you know?The country’s name combines the older regional name Guinea, whose ultimate origin is debated but long tied to West African geography, with Bissau, the name of its capital, a Portuguese colonial spelling of a local place-name.
Etymological Timeline
Pre-15th Century
Local/Regional
Bissau
“A local place-name in the area that later became the capital city.”
15th Century
Portuguese
Guiné
“Portuguese name for the West African coast and surrounding region.”
19th Century
English
Guinea
“An English form of the West African regional name, used in colonial geography.”
1973
English
Guinea-Bissau
“The name adopted for the independent state, combining the regional name with its capital city.”