Kongo
/ˈkɒŋ.ɡoʊ/noun
A historical kingdom and cultural-linguistic region in west-central Africa, and the name of its people and language family.
Did you know?Kongo became one of the most influential political names in Central Africa, and its forms spread into European languages through centuries of contact, trade, and colonial record-keeping.
Etymological Timeline
Pre-15th Century
Kikongo
Kongo
“The name of the kingdom/region and its people in Central Africa”
15th Century
Portuguese
Congo
“Portuguese spelling used for the kingdom and river region encountered on the Atlantic coast”
16th–19th Century
European languages
Congo
“A colonial-era geographic and political name applied to the river, basin, and surrounding peoples”
Modern English
English
Kongo
“A historical spelling referring to the Kongo kingdom, people, language, or related cultural contexts”