Tanzania
/ˌtæn.zəˈniː.ə/noun
A country in East Africa formed by the union of Tanganyika and Zanzibar in 1964.
Did you know?The name was deliberately coined by combining “Tangan-” from Tanganyika with “-zania” from Zanzibar, turning political union into a single word.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient period
Bantu languages
Tanganyika
“A regional name whose deeper Bantu etymology is disputed; it was associated with the great inland lake now called Lake Tanganyika.”
Medieval period
Arabic/Persian
Zanjibar
“A name connected with the Arabic term Zanj for Black African peoples and Persian bār, “coast” or “shore.””
19th Century
English
Tanganyika
“The established English name for the mainland territory and its lake region in East Africa.”
19th Century
English
Zanzibar
“The established English name for the Indian Ocean island territory and sultanate.”
1964
English
Tanzania
“A newly coined name formed from Tanganyika and Zanzibar after their political union.”
Modern English
English
Tanzania
“The official name of the United Republic of Tanzania.”
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