Wiktionary

Benin

See also: Bénin, Benín, bénin, bénîn, and bɛnin
Languages (30)
English
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English

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Benin

Etymology

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Etymology tree
Proto-Yoruboid *ú-lí
Yoruba ile
Yoruba ì-
Yoruba bí
Proto-Edekiri *ɪ́-nʊ̃́
Proto-Edekiri *ɪ́-lʊ̃́
Yoruba inú
Yoruba ibinu
Yoruba ile ibinubor.
Itsekiri Ubinubor.
Portuguese Benimbor.
French Béninbor.
English Benin

    Borrowed from French Bénin, from Portuguese Benim, from Itsekiri Ubinu. The term is first documented in the late 1490s upon Portuguese contact with the Itsekiri Kingdom. The etymology is unclear; it appears Benin was always used as an exonym (probably by the Itsekiri and Yoruba) for the Benin Kingdom, which was always referred to as Ẹ̀dó, and older Ìgòdòmigòdò. The leading hypothesis is that the term originally derived from Yoruba ilẹ̀ ìbínú (“land of anger”), which emerges from a folk myth regarding purported founder of the Benin empire, Oranmiyan, who was a Yoruba prince, who referred to the region by this phrase because of his frustration in ruling the land.[1]

    Pronunciation

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    • Hyphenation: Be‧nin
    • (UK) IPA(key): /bɪˈniːn/, /bɛˈniːn/
    • (US) IPA(key): /bəˈnin/, /bəˈnɪn/
    • Audio (US):(file)
    • Audio (UK):(file)
    • Rhymes: -ɪn, -iːn

    Proper noun

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    Benin

    2. A country in West Africa, formerly Dahomey.
      1. People's Republic of Benin, from 1975 to 1990
      2. Republic of Benin, since 1990
    4. A historical kingdom in West Africa, in present-day Nigeria.

    Hypernyms

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    Derived terms

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    Descendants

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    • → Japanese: ベニン (Benin)

    Translations

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    See also

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    countries in Africa (appendix)edit

    References

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    1. ^ Isidore Okpewho (1998), Once Upon a Kingdom‎[1], Indiana University Press, page 176.

    Further reading

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    Anagrams

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    Afrikaans

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    Afrikaans Wikipedia has an article on:
    Wikipedia af

    Pronunciation

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    Proper noun

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    Benin

    1. Benin (a country in West Africa, formerly Dahomey; official name: Republiek van Benin; capital: Porto Novo)

    Derived terms

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    Breton

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    Proper noun

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    Benin ?

    1. Benin (a country in West Africa, formerly Dahomey)

    Central Nahuatl

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    Proper noun

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    Benin

    1. Benin (a country in West Africa, formerly Dahomey)

    Crimean Tatar

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    Crimean Tatar Wikipedia has an article on:
    Wikipedia crh

    Alternative forms

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    Alternative spellings
    Arabic بنین
    Soviet Latin Benin
    Romanian Latin Benin
    Cyrillic Бенин
    Ukranian Latin Benin

    Proper noun

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    Benin

    1. Benin (a country in West Africa, formerly Dahomey)

    Czech

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    Czech Wikipedia has an article on:
    Wikipedia cs

    Pronunciation

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    Proper noun

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    Benin m inan (relational adjective beninský, demonym Beninec or Beniňan, female demonym Beninka or Beniňanka)

    1. Benin (a country in West Africa, formerly Dahomey)

    Declension

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    Declension of Benin (sg-only hard masculine inanimate)
    singular
    nominative Benin
    genitive Beninu
    dative Beninu
    accusative Benin
    vocative Benine
    locative Beninu
    instrumental Beninem

    Further reading

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    Danish

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    Proper noun

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    Benin

    1. Benin (a country in West Africa, formerly Dahomey)

    Dutch

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    Pronunciation

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    • IPA(key): /beːˈnin/
    • Audio:(file)
    • Hyphenation: Be‧nin
    • Rhymes: -in

    Proper noun

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    Benin n

    1. Benin (a country in West Africa, formerly Dahomey)

    Derived terms

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    Estonian

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    Estonian Wikipedia has an article on:
    Wikipedia et

    Pronunciation

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    • IPA(key): /b̥eˈniːn/, [b̥eˈnʲiːn]

    Proper noun

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    Benin (genitive Benini, partitive Benini)

    1. Benin (a country in West Africa, formerly Dahomey)

    Declension

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    Declension of Benin (ÕS type 22e/riik, length gradation)
    singular plural
    nominative Benin —
    accusative nom.
    gen. Benini
    genitive —
    partitive Benini —
    illative Benini
    Beninisse     		—
    inessive Beninis —
    elative Beninist —
    allative Beninile —
    adessive Beninil —
    ablative Beninilt —
    translative Beniniks —
    terminative Beninini —
    essive Beninina —
    abessive Beninita —
    comitative Beniniga —

    Faroese

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    Etymology

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    From Portuguese Benim, transcription of local corruption of Itsekiri ubinu, from Yoruba ile ibinu (“house of vexation”).

    Pronunciation

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    Proper noun

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    Benin n

    1. Benin (a country in West Africa, formerly Dahomey)

    Declension

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    singular
    indefinite
    nominative Benin
    accusative Benin
    dative Benini
    genitive Benins

    Finnish

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    Finnish Wikipedia has an article on:
    Wikipedia fi

    Etymology

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    From Portuguese Benim.

    Pronunciation

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    • IPA(key): /ˈbenin/, [ˈbe̞nin]
    • Rhymes: -enin
    • Syllabification(key): Be‧nin
    • Hyphenation(key): Be‧nin

    Proper noun

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    Benin

    1. Benin (a country in West Africa, formerly Dahomey)

    Declension

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    Inflection of Benin (Kotus type 5/risti, no gradation)
    nominative Benin —
    genitive Beninin —
    partitive Beniniä —
    illative Beniniin —
    singular plural
    nominative Benin —
    accusative nom. Benin —
    gen. Beninin
    genitive Beninin —
    partitive Beniniä —
    inessive Beninissä —
    elative Beninistä —
    illative Beniniin —
    adessive Beninillä —
    ablative Beniniltä —
    allative Beninille —
    essive Benininä —
    translative Beniniksi —
    abessive Beninittä —
    instructive — —
    comitative See the possessive forms below.
    Possessive forms of Benin (Kotus type 5/risti, no gradation)
    first-person singular possessor
    singular plural
    nominative Beninini —
    accusative nom. Beninini —
    gen. Beninini
    genitive Beninini —
    partitive Beniniäni —
    inessive Beninissäni —
    elative Beninistäni —
    illative Beniniini —
    adessive Beninilläni —
    ablative Beniniltäni —
    allative Beninilleni —
    essive Benininäni —
    translative Beninikseni —
    abessive Beninittäni —
    instructive — —
    comitative — —
    second-person singular possessor
    singular plural
    nominative Beninisi —
    accusative nom. Beninisi —
    gen. Beninisi
    genitive Beninisi —
    partitive Beniniäsi —
    inessive Beninissäsi —
    elative Beninistäsi —
    illative Beniniisi —
    adessive Beninilläsi —
    ablative Beniniltäsi —
    allative Beninillesi —
    essive Benininäsi —
    translative Beniniksesi —
    abessive Beninittäsi —
    instructive — —
    comitative — —
    first-person plural possessor
    singular plural
    nominative Beninimme —
    accusative nom. Beninimme —
    gen. Beninimme
    genitive Beninimme —
    partitive Beniniämme —
    inessive Beninissämme —
    elative Beninistämme —
    illative Beniniimme —
    adessive Beninillämme —
    ablative Beniniltämme —
    allative Beninillemme —
    essive Benininämme —
    translative Beniniksemme —
    abessive Beninittämme —
    instructive — —
    comitative — —
    second-person plural possessor
    singular plural
    nominative Benininne —
    accusative nom. Benininne —
    gen. Benininne
    genitive Benininne —
    partitive Beniniänne —
    inessive Beninissänne —
    elative Beninistänne —
    illative Beniniinne —
    adessive Beninillänne —
    ablative Beniniltänne —
    allative Beninillenne —
    essive Benininänne —
    translative Beniniksenne —
    abessive Beninittänne —
    instructive — —
    comitative — —
    third-person possessor
    singular plural
    nominative Benininsä —
    accusative nom. Benininsä —
    gen. Benininsä
    genitive Benininsä —
    partitive Beniniään
    Beniniänsä     		—
    inessive Beninissään
    Beninissänsä     		—
    elative Beninistään
    Beninistänsä     		—
    illative Beniniinsä —
    adessive Beninillään
    Beninillänsä     		—
    ablative Beniniltään
    Beniniltänsä     		—
    allative Beninilleen
    Beninillensä     		—
    essive Benininään
    Benininänsä     		—
    translative Beninikseen
    Beniniksensä     		—
    abessive Beninittään
    Beninittänsä     		—
    instructive — —
    comitative — —

    Derived terms

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    German

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    Pronunciation

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    Proper noun

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    Benin n (proper noun, genitive Benins or (optionally with an article) Benin)

    1. Benin (a country in West Africa, formerly Dahomey)

    Derived terms

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    See also

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    countries in Africa: Staaten Afrikas (appendix)edit

    Further reading

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    • “Benin”, in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache‎[3] (in German)

    Hungarian

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     Benin on Hungarian Wikipedia

    Pronunciation

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    • IPA(key): [ˈbɛnin]
    • Hyphenation: Be‧nin
    • Rhymes: -in

    Proper noun

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    Benin

    1. Benin (a country in West Africa, formerly Dahomey; official name: Benini Köztársaság)

    Declension

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    Inflection (stem in -e-, front unrounded harmony)
    singular plural
    nominative Benin —
    accusative Benint —
    dative Beninnek —
    instrumental Beninnel —
    causal-final Beninért —
    translative Beninné —
    terminative Beninig —
    essive-formal Beninként —
    essive-modal — —
    inessive Beninben —
    superessive Beninen —
    adessive Beninnél —
    illative Beninbe —
    sublative Beninre —
    allative Beninhez —
    elative Beninből —
    delative Beninről —
    ablative Benintől —
    non-attributive
    possessive – singular     		Beniné —
    non-attributive
    possessive – plural     		Beninéi —
    Possessive forms of Benin
    possessor single possession multiple possessions
    1st person sing. Beninem —
    2nd person sing. Benined —
    3rd person sing. Beninje —
    1st person plural Beninünk —
    2nd person plural Beninetek —
    3rd person plural Beninjük —

    Derived terms

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    See also

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    countries in Africa: Afrika országai (appendix)edit

    Indonesian

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    Indonesian Wikipedia has an article on:
    Wikipedia id

    Etymology

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    Borrowed from Portuguese Benim, from Itsekiri Ubinu, from Yoruba ile ibinu (“house of vexation”).

    Pronunciation

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    Proper noun

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    Benin

    1. Benin (a country in West Africa, formerly Dahomey)

    Noun

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    Benin (plural Benin-Benin or para Benin)

    1. Beninese

    Adjective

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    Benin (comparative lebih Benin, superlative paling Benin)

    1. Beninese

    See also

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    countries in Africa: negara-negara di Afrika (appendix)edit

    Further reading

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    Interlingua

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    Proper noun

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    Benin

    1. Benin (a country in West Africa, formerly Dahomey)

    Italian

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    Italian Wikipedia has an article on:
    Wikipedia it

    Proper noun

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    Benin m

    1. Benin (a country in West Africa, formerly Dahomey)

    Derived terms

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    Japanese

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    Romanization

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    Benin

    1. Rōmaji transcription of ベニン

    Maltese

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    Maltese Wikipedia has an article on:
    Wikipedia mt

    Proper noun

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    Il-Benin m

    1. Benin (a country in West Africa, formerly Dahomey; official name: Repubblika tal-Benin)

    See also

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    countries in Africa: pajjiżi tal-Afrika (appendix)edit

    Norwegian Bokmål

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    Norwegian Wikipedia has an article on:
    Wikipedia no
     
    The flag of Benin.
     
    Benin in Africa.
     
    A landscape in Pendjari National Park in Benin.

    Etymology

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    Internationalism, based ultimately on Portuguese Benim, the Portuguese name of the historical kingdom of Benin, from Itsekiri Ubinu. The modern country, formerly called Dahomey, adopted the name in 1975 from the Bight of Benin (Norwegian Beninbukta), which had itself been named after the historical kingdom in present-day Nigeria. The further origin of Ubinu is uncertain; a traditional explanation connects it with ilẹ̀ ìbínú (“land of anger”).

    Parallel international adaptations include Norwegian Nynorsk Benin, Danish Benin, Swedish Benin, German Benin, Dutch Benin and English Benin.

    Pronunciation

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    • IPA(key): /¹beˈniːn/, [bəˈnìːn]
    • Rhymes: -iːn
    • Hyphenation: Be‧nin

    Proper noun

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    Benin

    1. Benin; a country in Africa, in West Africa on the Gulf of Guinea, with Porto-Novo as its official capital and Cotonou as the seat of government.
      Benin har en kort kystlinje ved Guineabukta. ― Benin has a short coastline on the Gulf of Guinea.
      • 2026 July 24, Anne Kielland and Sten Lundbo, “Benin”, in Store norske leksikon‎[4]:
        Benin er en republikk ved Guineabukta i Vest-Afrika.
        Benin is a republic on the Gulf of Guinea in West Africa.
    2. (historical) Benin; a historical kingdom in Nigeria.
      Benin var kjent for sin avanserte metallkunst. ― The kingdom of Benin was known for its sophisticated metalwork.
      • 2025 February 24, Dag Leraand, “Benin – historisk område i Afrika”, in Store norske leksikon‎[5]:
        Benin var en vestafrikansk statsdannelse i det nåværende Nigeria; på 1400-tallet den største staten i Guineabukta.
        Benin was a West African polity in present-day Nigeria; in the fifteenth century, it was the largest state on the Gulf of Guinea.

    Usage notes

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    • The official Norwegian long-form name of the modern country is Republikken Benin (“the Republic of Benin”).
    • The modern country, formerly called Dahomey, is distinct from the historical kingdom of Benin in present-day Nigeria.
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    See also

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    countries in Africa: land i Afrika (appendix)edit

    References

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    Norwegian Nynorsk

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    Norwegian Nynorsk Wikipedia has an article on:
    Wikipedia nn

    Proper noun

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    Benin

    1. Benin (a country in West Africa, formerly Dahomey)
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    Polish

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    Polish Wikipedia has an article on:
    Wikipedia pl

    Pronunciation

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    Proper noun

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    Benin m inan (related adjective beniński)

    1. Benin (a country in West Africa, formerly Dahomey)

    Declension

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    Declension of Benin
    singular
    nominative Benin
    genitive Beninu
    dative Beninowi
    accusative Benin
    instrumental Beninem
    locative Beninie
    vocative Beninie

    Derived terms

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    nouns

    See also

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    countries in Africa: państwa Afryki (appendix)edit

    Further reading

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    • “Benin”, in Polish dictionaries at PWN‎[6] (in Polish)

    Romanian

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    Pronunciation

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    Proper noun

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    Benin

    1. Benin (a country in West Africa, formerly Dahomey)

    Serbo-Croatian

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    Pronunciation

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    • IPA(key): /bênin/
    • Hyphenation: Be‧nin

    Proper noun

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    Bȅnin m inan (Cyrillic spelling Бе̏нин)

    1. Benin (a country in West Africa, formerly Dahomey)

    Declension

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    Declension of Benin
    singular
    nominative Benin
    genitive Benina
    dative Beninu
    accusative Benin
    vocative Benine
    locative Beninu
    instrumental Beninom

    Slovak

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    Slovak Wikipedia has an article on:
    Wikipedia sk

    Pronunciation

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    • IPA(key): /beɲin/, [ˈbeɲin]
    • Rhymes: -eɲin
    • Hyphenation: Be‧nin

    Proper noun

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    Benin m inan (genitive singular Beninu, declension pattern of dub)

    1. Benin (a country in West Africa, formerly Dahomey)

    References

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    • “Benin”, in Slovníkový portál Jazykovedného ústavu Ľ. Štúra SAV [Dictionary portal of the Ľ. Štúr Institute of Linguistics, Slovak Academy of Science] (in Slovak), https://slovnik.juls.savba.sk, 2003–2026

    Slovene

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    Pronunciation

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    Proper noun

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    Benín m inan

    1. Benin (a country in West Africa, formerly Dahomey)

    Declension

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    		 The diacritics used in this section of the entry are non-tonal. If you are a native tonal speaker, please help by adding the tonal marks.
    Masculine inan., hard o-stem
    nominative Benín
    genitive Benína
    singular
    nominative
    (imenovȃlnik)     		Benín
    genitive
    (rodȋlnik)     		Benína
    dative
    (dajȃlnik)     		Benínu
    accusative
    (tožȋlnik)     		Benín
    locative
    (mẹ̑stnik)     		Benínu
    instrumental
    (orọ̑dnik)     		Benínom
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    References

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    • “Benin”, in Slovarji Inštituta za slovenski jezik Frana Ramovša ZRC SAZU, portal Fran
    • “Benin”, in Termania, Amebis
    • See also the general references

    Swahili

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    Pronunciation

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    Proper noun

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    Benin

    1. Benin (a country in West Africa, formerly Dahomey)

    See also

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    countries in Africa: nchi za Afrika (appendix)edit

    Swedish

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    Swedish Wikipedia has an article on:
    Wikipedia sv

    Etymology

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    From Portuguese Benim, from Itsekiri Ubinu, from Yoruba ile ibinu (“house of vexation”).[1]

    Pronunciation

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    Proper noun

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    Benin n (genitive Benins)

    1. Benin (a country in West Africa, formerly Dahomey)
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    See also

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    countries in Africa: Afrikas länder (appendix)edit

    References

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    1. ^ Isidore Okpewho (1998), Once Upon a Kingdom‎[2], Indiana University Press, page 176.

    Tagalog

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    Etymology

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      Borrowed from Spanish Benín (“Benin”).

      Pronunciation

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      Proper noun

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      Benín (Baybayin spelling ᜊᜒᜈᜒᜈ᜔)

      1. Benin (a country in West Africa, formerly Dahomey)

      Turkish

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      Pronunciation

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      Proper noun

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      Benin

      1. Benin (a country in West Africa, formerly Dahomey)

      Declension

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      Declension of Benin
      singular plural
      nominative Benin -
      definite accusative Benin'i -
      dative Benin'e -
      locative Benin'de -
      ablative Benin'den -
      genitive Benin'in -

      See also

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      countries in Africa: Afrika ülkeleri (appendix)edit

      Welsh

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      Welsh Wikipedia has an article on:
      Wikipedia cy

      Etymology

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      From English Benin, from Portuguese Benim, from Itsekiri Ubinu, from Yoruba ile ibinu.

      Pronunciation

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      Proper noun

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      Benin f

      1. Benin (a country in West Africa, formerly Dahomey)

      Derived terms

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      See also

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      countries in Africa: gwledydd Affrica (appendix)edit

      Mutation

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      Mutated forms of Benin
      radical soft nasal aspirate
      Benin Fenin Menin unchanged

      Note: Certain mutated forms of some words can never occur in standard Welsh.
      All possible mutated forms are displayed for convenience.

      Retrieved from "https://en.wiktionary.org/w/index.php?title=Benin&oldid=92013548"