Comoros

IPA/ˈkɒmərəʊz/
KK[kɔmˈɔrˌos]IPA/ˈkɑːmərəʊz/

Comoros — noun

1. a country in the Indian Ocean made up of three volcanic islands, located east of

1.nounB1
Definition

a country in the Indian Ocean made up of three volcanic islands, located east of mainland Africa between Mozambique and Madagascar

Example

Nkechi took a small wooden ferry from Moroni to the island of Mohéli and camped near the white-sand beach.

proper noun as destination: travelled within + country name

The official languages of the island nation of Comoros are Comorian, Arabic, and French.

Common collocations
  • visit Comoros
  • live in Comoros
  • the islands of Comoros
  • the people of Comoros

Usage Note

Always capitalised as a proper noun. Often used with the definite article in historical or political contexts ('the Comoros'), but 'Comoros' alone is standard in modern usage.

Common Mistakes

Comoro is a country in the Indian Ocean.
Comoros is a country in the Indian Ocean.
The name Comoros is plural in form but takes a singular verb.
科摩羅是印度洋上的島國。
葛摩是印度洋上的島國。
In Taiwan standard Chinese, the country is called 葛摩, not 科摩羅 (which is the mainland China name).

2. a republic that became independent from France in 1975. It consists of three mai

2.nounB2
Definition

a republic that became independent from France in 1975. It consists of three main volcanic islands, and its capital city is Moroni on Grande Comore.

Example

Comoros became a member of the African Union in 1975, soon after gaining independence.

collocation: gain independence + preposition from

Jenna learned that Comoros gained independence from French rule on July 6, 1975.

Common collocations
  • gain independence from
  • the capital of
  • the islands of
  • located off the coast of

Usage Note

Use this sense when the focus is on Comoros as a political entity — its government, independence history, and legal status as a republic — rather than its physical geography or cultural features (which belong to the COUNTRY sense).

Word family

  • Comorian
    nounB2
  • Comorian
    adjectiveB2

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • the Union of the Comoros
  • the islands of Comoros
  • gain independence from

Prepositions

Etymology

ArabicFrenchEnglish

The name Comoros comes from the Arabic word 'qamar' (قمر), meaning 'moon'. Arab sailors called the islands 'Jazā'ir al-Qamar' (Islands of the Moon), a name later adopted into European languages through French colonial sources.