Rwanda
/ruːˈændə/noun
A landlocked country in east-central Africa.
Did you know?The name Rwanda is tied to the precolonial Kingdom of Rwanda, and like many African toponyms, its exact original etymology is debated rather than securely traceable to a single gloss.
Etymological Timeline
Precolonial era
Kinyarwanda
Rwanda
“The name of the kingdom and people in the Great Lakes region of Africa.”
Late 19th Century
German
Ruanda
“German colonial spelling for the region and kingdom.”
Early 20th Century
French
Ruanda
“French administrative spelling used under colonial rule.”
Modern English
English
Rwanda
“The modern sovereign state in east-central Africa.”