Namibia
/nəˈmɪb.i.ə/noun
A country on the southwestern coast of Africa, bordered by Angola, Zambia, Botswana, South Africa, and the Atlantic Ocean.
Did you know?The country takes its name from the Namib Desert, whose name comes from Khoekhoegowab and is commonly interpreted as referring to a vast or empty expanse.
Etymological Timeline
Precolonial period
Khoekhoegowab
namib
“A vast or extensive place; commonly associated with the desert’s immense, sparsely inhabited landscape.”
19th Century
European usage
Namib
“The name used for the coastal desert along southwestern Africa.”
1884
German
Deutsch-Südwestafrika
“German South West Africa, the colonial name imposed after German occupation; it did not replace the local name Namib for the desert.”
1968
English
Namibia
“The United Nations officially adopted Namibia as the territory’s future name, derived from Namib.”
1990
English
Namibia
“The independent Republic of Namibia was established on 21 March 1990.”