Ubangian
/uːˈbæŋɡiən/noun
Relating to the Ubangian languages, peoples, or cultural region of Central Africa.
Did you know?The proposed Ubangian language family includes languages spoken across several Central African countries, but scholars continue to debate whether all of them descend from one common ancestor.
Etymological Timeline
19th Century
French
Oubangui
“French colonial form of the name for the Ubangi River and surrounding region.”
19th–20th Century
English
Ubangi
“English geographical name for the major Central African river and region.”
Early 20th Century
English
Ubangian
“An adjective formed from Ubangi with the English suffix -an, meaning associated with Ubangi.”
20th Century
Linguistics
Ubangian
“A proposed name for a group of Central African languages believed by some scholars to share a common ancestry.”
Modern English
English
Ubangian
“Relating to the Ubangian language family, its speakers, or its cultural area.”
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