Nigerian
/naɪˈdʒɪə.ri.ən/noun
Relating to Nigeria or its people.
Did you know?The name Nigeria was coined in the 1890s by British journalist Flora Shaw, likely from the Niger River, whose own name may come from a Latinized form of a local river name rather than any hidden “dark” meaning.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient/Medieval
Latin
Niger
“Black; later used by Europeans as a name for the Niger River region in altered geographic naming traditions.”
19th Century
English
Niger River
“The major West African river whose name was already established in European usage.”
1897
English
Nigeria
“A newly coined name for the British colonial territory around the Niger River.”
Early 20th Century
English
Nigerian
“Pertaining to Nigeria or its inhabitants.”
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