Kongolese
/kɒŋ.ɡəˈliːz/noun
Relating to the Kongo people, the historic Kingdom of Kongo, or the Congo region.
Did you know?“Kongolese” is an established variant of “Congolese,” and its spelling with K can more visibly preserve the Kongo ethnonym and distinguish it from modern political borders.
Etymological Timeline
Before 15th Century
Kikongo
Kongo
“Name associated with the Kongo people and their region in west-central Africa; the deeper original meaning is uncertain.”
14th–15th Century
Kikongo
BaKongo
“The Kongo people; the prefix ba- marks a plural human group in Bantu languages.”
15th–16th Century
Portuguese
Congo
“Portuguese rendering of Kongo, used for the kingdom, its people, and the surrounding region.”
16th–19th Century
European languages
Congolese
“A demonym or adjective formed from Congo with the geographic suffix -ese.”
Modern English
English
Kongolese
“A spelling variant of Congolese, especially useful when referring specifically to the Kongo people or historical Kongo identity.”