Kongo

See also: Kongó, Kongō, kongo, kongó, and kongō

English

Noun

Kongo pl (plural only)

1. A Bantu ethnic group primarily defined as the speakers of Kikongo.

   Synonym: Bakongo

Proper noun

Kongo

1. A Bantu language (or family of languages) of Central Africa.

   Synonym: Kikongo

2. Alternative spelling of Congo (“the nation or region in Africa”).

Derived terms

• Kongo-Saharan

Related terms

• Ibinda

Translations

Bantu language

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 剛果語 / 刚果语 (zh)

• Dutch: Kongo (nl) n, Kikongo (nl) n
• Finnish: kongo (fi)
• French: kikongo (fr) m
• German: Kongo (de) n
• Kongo: Kisikôngo
• Kurdish:

  Northern Kurdish: kîkongoyî (ku) f

• Lingala: Kikɔ́ngɔ
• Polish: kikongo (pl) n
• Portuguese: congo, quicongo (pt)
• Russian: конго (ru) (kongo)
• Swahili: Kikongo

Adjective

Kongo (not generally comparable, comparative more Kongo, superlative most Kongo)

1. Of or related to the Kongo languages or Kikongo-speaking peoples
   • 2013, Barbaro Martinez-Ruiz, Kongo Graphic Writing and Other Narratives of the Sign:

     In addition, an initial analysis of Kongo cosmology, cosmogony, and mythology allows us to see and appreciate the conceptual parallels between Kongo culture in Central Africa and in Cuba.

See also

• Wiktionary’s coverage of Kongo terms

Further reading

• ISO 639-1 code kg, ISO 639-3 code kon (SIL)
• Ethnologue entry for Kongo, kon ⁠, a macrolanguage including:

• Ethnologue entry for Koongo, kng ⁠
• Ethnologue entry for Laari, ldi ⁠
• Ethnologue entry for San Salvador Kongo, kwy ⁠

Czech

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈkoŋɡo]

Proper noun

Kongo n (relational adjective konžský, demonym Konžan)

1. Democratic Republic of the Congo (a country in Central Africa, larger and to the east of the Republic of the Congo)
2. Republic of the Congo (a country in Central Africa, smaller and to the west of the Democratic Republic of the Congo)
3. Congo (a major river in Central Africa which flows for about 4,380 km (2,720 miles) to the Atlantic Ocean in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, at times forming the border with the Republic of the Congo and Angola)

Declension

Declension of Kongo (sg-only masculine inanimate in -o)

	singular
nominative	Kongo
genitive	Konga
dative	Kongu
accusative	Kongo
vocative	Kongo
locative	Kongu
instrumental	Kongem

Further reading

• “Kongo”, in Kartotéka Novočeského lexikálního archivu (in Czech)
• “Kongo”, in Slovník spisovného jazyka českého (in Czech), 1960–1971, 1989

Dutch

Alternative forms

• Congo

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈkɔŋ.ɣoː/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Hyphenation: Kon‧go

Proper noun

Kongo f

1. Congo (a major river in Central Africa which flows for about 4,380 km (2,720 miles) to the Atlantic Ocean in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, at times forming the border with the Republic of the Congo and Angola)

Proper noun

Kongo n

1. Kongo (a Bantu language)

   Synonym: Kikongo

Esperanto

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈkonɡo/
• Rhymes: -onɡo
• Syllabification: Kon‧go

Proper noun

Kongo (accusative Kongon)

1. Democratic Republic of the Congo (a country in Central Africa, larger and to the east of the Republic of the Congo)
2. Republic of the Congo (a country in Central Africa, smaller and to the west of the Democratic Republic of the Congo)

Derived terms

• Belga Kongo (“Belgian Congo”)
• Demokratia Respubliko Kongo (“Democratic Republic of the Congo”)
• Kongo-Brazavilo (“Congo-Brazzaville”)
• Kongo-Kinŝasa (“Congo-Kinshasa”)
• Respubliko Kongo (“Republic of the Congo”)

Further reading

• “Kongo”, in Plena Ilustrita Vortaro de Esperanto [Complete Illustrated Dictionary of Esperanto], 2020, →ISBN
• “Kongo”, in Reta Vortaro [Online Dictionary] (in Esperanto), 1997-2026

Finnish

Etymology

From French Congo, possibly from Kongo nkongo.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈkoŋːo/, [ˈko̞ŋːo̞]
• Rhymes: -oŋːo
• Syllabification^(key): Kon‧go
• Hyphenation^(key): Kon‧go

Proper noun

Kongo

1. Democratic Republic of the Congo (a country in Central Africa, larger and to the east of the Republic of the Congo)
2. Republic of the Congo (a country in Central Africa, smaller and to the west of the Democratic Republic of the Congo)
3. Congo (a major river in Central Africa which flows for about 4,380 km (2,720 miles) to the Atlantic Ocean in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, at times forming the border with the Republic of the Congo and Angola)

Declension

Inflection of Kongo (Kotus type 1/valo, no gradation)
nominative		Kongo	Kongot
genitive		Kongon	Kongojen
partitive		Kongoa	Kongoja
illative		Kongoon	Kongoihin
		singular	plural
nominative		Kongo	Kongot
accusative	nom.	Kongo	Kongot
	gen.	Kongon
genitive		Kongon	Kongojen
partitive		Kongoa	Kongoja
inessive		Kongossa	Kongoissa
elative		Kongosta	Kongoista
illative		Kongoon	Kongoihin
adessive		Kongolla	Kongoilla
ablative		Kongolta	Kongoilta
allative		Kongolle	Kongoille
essive		Kongona	Kongoina
translative		Kongoksi	Kongoiksi
abessive		Kongotta	Kongoitta
instructive		—	Kongoin
comitative		See the possessive forms below.

Possessive forms of Kongo (Kotus type 1/valo, no gradation)

first-person singular possessor singular plural nominative Kongoni Kongoni accusative nom. Kongoni Kongoni gen. Kongoni genitive Kongoni Kongojeni partitive Kongoani Kongojani inessive Kongossani Kongoissani elative Kongostani Kongoistani illative Kongooni Kongoihini adessive Kongollani Kongoillani ablative Kongoltani Kongoiltani allative Kongolleni Kongoilleni essive Kongonani Kongoinani translative Kongokseni Kongoikseni abessive Kongottani Kongoittani instructive — — comitative — Kongoineni second-person singular possessor singular plural nominative Kongosi Kongosi accusative nom. Kongosi Kongosi gen. Kongosi genitive Kongosi Kongojesi partitive Kongoasi Kongojasi inessive Kongossasi Kongoissasi elative Kongostasi Kongoistasi illative Kongoosi Kongoihisi adessive Kongollasi Kongoillasi ablative Kongoltasi Kongoiltasi allative Kongollesi Kongoillesi essive Kongonasi Kongoinasi translative Kongoksesi Kongoiksesi abessive Kongottasi Kongoittasi instructive — — comitative — Kongoinesi first-person plural possessor singular plural nominative Kongomme Kongomme accusative nom. Kongomme Kongomme gen. Kongomme genitive Kongomme Kongojemme partitive Kongoamme Kongojamme inessive Kongossamme Kongoissamme elative Kongostamme Kongoistamme illative Kongoomme Kongoihimme adessive Kongollamme Kongoillamme ablative Kongoltamme Kongoiltamme allative Kongollemme Kongoillemme essive Kongonamme Kongoinamme translative Kongoksemme Kongoiksemme abessive Kongottamme Kongoittamme instructive — — comitative — Kongoinemme second-person plural possessor singular plural nominative Kongonne Kongonne accusative nom. Kongonne Kongonne gen. Kongonne genitive Kongonne Kongojenne partitive Kongoanne Kongojanne inessive Kongossanne Kongoissanne elative Kongostanne Kongoistanne illative Kongoonne Kongoihinne adessive Kongollanne Kongoillanne ablative Kongoltanne Kongoiltanne allative Kongollenne Kongoillenne essive Kongonanne Kongoinanne translative Kongoksenne Kongoiksenne abessive Kongottanne Kongoittanne instructive — — comitative — Kongoinenne third-person possessor singular plural nominative Kongonsa Kongonsa accusative nom. Kongonsa Kongonsa gen. Kongonsa genitive Kongonsa Kongojensa partitive Kongoaan Kongoansa Kongojaan Kongojansa inessive Kongossaan Kongossansa Kongoissaan Kongoissansa elative Kongostaan Kongostansa Kongoistaan Kongoistansa illative Kongoonsa Kongoihinsa adessive Kongollaan Kongollansa Kongoillaan Kongoillansa ablative Kongoltaan Kongoltansa Kongoiltaan Kongoiltansa allative Kongolleen Kongollensa Kongoilleen Kongoillensa essive Kongonaan Kongonansa Kongoinaan Kongoinansa translative Kongokseen Kongoksensa Kongoikseen Kongoiksensa abessive Kongottaan Kongottansa Kongoittaan Kongoittansa instructive — — comitative — Kongoineen Kongoinensa

Synonyms

• (Republic of the Congo): Kongon tasavalta
• (Democratic Republic of the Congo): Kongon demokraattinen tasavalta
• (Congo River): Kongojoki

Derived terms

compounds

• Kongojoki
• kongonjänölepakko
• kongonkahvi
• kongonkiipijähiiri
• kongonkultamyyrä
• kongonkultiainen
• kongonkusimanse
• kongonriikinkukko
• kongonsaukko
• kongonsimpanssi
• kongontetra
• kongopunainen

See also

• Zaire

German

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈkɔŋɡo/

• Audio (Germany (Berlin)):

  (file)

Proper noun

der Kongo m (proper noun, strong, usually definite, definite genitive des Kongo or des Kongos)
Kongo n (proper noun, genitive Kongos or (optionally with an article) Kongo)

1. Democratic Republic of the Congo (a country in Central Africa, larger and to the east of the Republic of the Congo)
2. Republic of the Congo (a country in Central Africa, smaller and to the west of the Democratic Republic of the Congo)

Declension

Declension of Kongo [sg-only, masculine, strong]

	singular
	def.	noun
nominative	der	Kongo
genitive	des	Kongo, Kongos
dative	dem	Kongo
accusative	den	Kongo

Declension of Kongo [sg-only, neuter, toponym]

	singular
	def.	noun
nominative	das	Kongo
genitive	des	Kongos, Kongo1
dative	dem	Kongo
accusative	das	Kongo

¹Optionally with an article.

Related terms

• Belgisch-Kongo, Französisch-Kongo, Portugiesisch-Kongo, DR Kongo
• Mittelkongo, Ostkongo, Kongo-Kinshasa
• Kongo pl

Proper noun

der Kongo m (proper noun, strong, usually definite, definite genitive des Kongo or des Kongos)

1. Congo (a major river in Central Africa which flows for about 4,380 km (2,720 miles) to the Atlantic Ocean in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, at times forming the border with the Republic of the Congo and Angola)

   Synonyms: Kongofluss, Kongo-Fluss

Related terms

• Kongobecken, Kongomündung, Kongopapagei

Proper noun

Kongo n (proper noun, strong, genitive Kongo or Kongos)

1. Kongo (a Bantu language)

Further reading

• “Kongo”, in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache‎^[1] (in German)

Indonesian

Pronunciation

• (Standard Indonesian) IPA^(key): /ˈkoŋo/ [ˈko.ŋo]
• Rhymes: -oŋo
• Syllabification: Ko‧ngo
• Homophone: kongo

Proper noun

Kongo

1. Congo (a region of Central Africa, comprising the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo)
2. Congo (a major river in Central Africa which flows for about 4,380 km (2,720 miles) to the Atlantic Ocean in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, at times forming the border with the Republic of the Congo and Angola)
3. Republic of the Congo (a country in Central Africa, smaller and to the west of the Democratic Republic of the Congo)
4. Democratic Republic of the Congo (a country in Central Africa, larger and to the east of the Republic of the Congo)
5. Kongo (a Bantu language (or family of languages) of Central Africa)

Noun

Kongo (plural Kongo-Kongo)

1. Congolese
2. Congolian
3. Kongo (A Bantu ethnic group primarily defined as the speakers of Kikongo)

Adjective

Kongo (comparative lebih Kongo, superlative paling Kongo)

1. Congolese
2. Congolian

Further reading

• “Kongo”, in Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia [Great Dictionary of the Indonesian Language] (in Indonesian), Jakarta: Agency for Language Development and Cultivation – Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia, 2016

Japanese

Romanization

Kongo

1. Rōmaji transcription of コンゴ

Latvian

Proper noun

Kongo f (indeclinable)

1. Democratic Republic of the Congo (a country in Central Africa, larger and to the east of the Republic of the Congo)
2. Republic of the Congo (a country in Central Africa, smaller and to the west of the Democratic Republic of the Congo)
3. Congo (a major river in Central Africa which flows for about 4,380 km (2,720 miles) to the Atlantic Ocean in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, at times forming the border with the Republic of the Congo and Angola)

Related terms

• Kongo Republika
• Kongo Demokrātiskā Republika

Polish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈkɔŋ.ɡɔ/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɔŋɡɔ
• Syllabification: Kon‧go

Proper noun

Kongo n (related adjective kongijski)

1. Republic of the Congo (a country in Central Africa, smaller and to the west of the Democratic Republic of the Congo)
2. Democratic Republic of the Congo (a country in Central Africa, larger and to the east of the Republic of the Congo)
3. Congo (a major river in Central Africa which flows for about 4,380 km (2,720 miles) to the Atlantic Ocean in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, at times forming the border with the Republic of the Congo and Angola)

Declension

Declension of Kongo

	singular
nominative	Kongo
genitive	Konga
dative	Kongu
accusative	Kongo
instrumental	Kongiem
locative	Kongu
vocative	Kongo

Derived terms

nouns

• Kongijczyk
• Kongijka

See also

• Demokratyczna Republika Konga (“Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo”)

countries in Africa: państwa Afryki (appendix)edit

• Algieria
• Angola
• Benin
• Botswana
• Burkina Faso
• Burundi
• Czad
• Demokratyczna Republika Konga
• Dżibuti
• Egipt
• Erytrea
• Eswatini
• Etiopia
• Gabon
• Gambia
• Ghana
• Gwinea
• Gwinea Bissau
• Gwinea Równikowa
• Kamerun
• Kenia
• Komory
• Kongo
• Lesotho
• Liberia
• Libia
• Madagaskar
• Malawi
• Mali
• Maroko
• Mauretania
• Mauritius
• Mozambik
• Namibia
• Niger
• Nigeria
• Południowa Afryka
• Republika Środkowoafrykańska
• Republika Zielonego Przylądka
• Rwanda
• Sahara Zachodnia
• Senegal
• Seszele
• Sierra Leone
• Somalia
• Sudan
• Sudan Południowy
• Tanzania
• Togo
• Tunezja
• Uganda
• Wybrzeże Kości Słoniowej
• Wyspy Świętego Tomasza i Książęca
• Zambia
• Zimbabwe

Further reading

• “Kongo”, in Polish dictionaries at PWN‎^[2] (in Polish)

Serbo-Croatian

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kônɡo/
• Hyphenation: Kon‧go

Proper noun

Kȍngo m inan (Cyrillic spelling Ко̏нго)

1. Democratic Republic of the Congo (a country in Central Africa, larger and to the east of the Republic of the Congo)

   Synonym: Kongo-Kinšasa

2. Republic of the Congo (a country in Central Africa, smaller and to the west of the Democratic Republic of the Congo)

   Synonym: Kongo-Brazavil

3. Congo (a major river in Central Africa which flows for about 4,380 km (2,720 miles) to the Atlantic Ocean in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, at times forming the border with the Republic of the Congo and Angola)

Declension

Declension of Kongo

	singular
nominative	Kongo
genitive	Konga
dative	Kongu
accusative	Kongo
vocative	Kongo
locative	Kongu
instrumental	Kongom

Swahili

Pronunciation

• Audio (Kenya):

  (file)

Proper noun

Kongo

1. Democratic Republic of the Congo (a country in Central Africa, larger and to the east of the Republic of the Congo)

   Synonym: Jamhuri ya Kidemokrasia ya Kongo

2. Republic of the Congo (a country in Central Africa, smaller and to the west of the Democratic Republic of the Congo)

   Synonym: Jamhuri ya Kongo

3. Congo (a major river in Central Africa which flows for about 4,380 km (2,720 miles) to the Atlantic Ocean in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, at times forming the border with the Republic of the Congo and Angola)

Swedish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈkɔŋɡʊ/
• Rhymes: -¹ɔŋɡʊ

Proper noun

Kongo n (genitive Kongos)

1. Democratic Republic of the Congo (a country in Central Africa, larger and to the east of the Republic of the Congo)

   Synonyms: Demokratiska republiken Kongo, Kongo-Kinshasa

2. Republic of the Congo (a country in Central Africa, smaller and to the west of the Democratic Republic of the Congo)

   Synonyms: Republiken Kongo, Kongo-Brazzaville

3. Congo (a major river in Central Africa which flows for about 4,380 km (2,720 miles) to the Atlantic Ocean in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, at times forming the border with the Republic of the Congo and Angola)

Usage notes

• Utrikes namnbok only uses the short name “Kongo” for the Republic of the Congo, while the Democratic Republic of the Congo is referred to by its official name only.

Related terms

• kongoles
• kongolesisk
• kongolesiska

References

• “Kongo”, in Svenska Akademiens ordlista [Wordlist of the Swedish Academy] (in Swedish)
• Svensk MeSH

Turkish

Proper noun

Kongo

1. Democratic Republic of the Congo (a country in Central Africa, larger and to the east of the Republic of the Congo)
2. Republic of the Congo (a country in Central Africa, smaller and to the west of the Democratic Republic of the Congo)
3. Congo (a major river in Central Africa which flows for about 4,380 km (2,720 miles) to the Atlantic Ocean in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, at times forming the border with the Republic of the Congo and Angola)

Declension

Declension of Kongo

	singular
nominative	Kongo
accusative	Kongo'yu
dative	Kongo'ya
locative	Kongo'da
ablative	Kongo'dan
genitive	Kongo'nun