Oubangui
/uːˈbæŋɡiː/noun
A French-derived name for the Ubangi River in Central Africa, a major tributary of the Congo River.
Did you know?Oubangui is the French form of Ubangi, and the river once gave its name to the former French colonial territory of Oubangui-Chari.
Etymological Timeline
19th Century
Local African usage
Ubangi
“Traditional regional name for the river; the precise original-language meaning is uncertain.”
19th Century
French
Oubangui
“French transcription of Ubangi, reflecting French spelling conventions.”
1903
French
Oubangui-Chari
“Name adopted for a French colonial territory combining the Oubangui and Chari regions.”
20th Century
English
Ubangi
“The usual English form for the river and surrounding geographic references.”
Modern English
English
Oubangui
“A recognized alternative, especially in historical and French-language contexts.”
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