Suriname River
/ˌsʊrɪˈnɑːm ˈrɪvər/noun
A major river in Suriname that flows northward into the Atlantic Ocean near Paramaribo.
Did you know?The origin of “Suriname” is disputed, but one widely accepted explanation connects it with the Surinen, an Indigenous group encountered in the region.
Etymological Timeline
Pre-European contact
Indigenous South American languages
Surinen / related forms
“A proposed source referring to the Surinen, an Indigenous people associated with the region; the exact linguistic form remains uncertain.”
16th Century
Spanish and other European records
Suriname
“Early European forms of the region’s name, recorded with varying spellings.”
17th Century
Dutch
Suriname Rivier
“The river associated with the colony and territory called Suriname; “rivier” means “river.””
Middle Dutch
Dutch
rivier
“River or flowing watercourse, borrowed through French from Latin rivarius or related forms.”
Classical Latin
Latin
rīvus
“A stream or channel; the source of English words such as “rival” and “derive.””
Modern English
English
Suriname River
“The established English name for the river in northeastern South America.”