congo
congo — noun
1. one of Africa's longest rivers, which travels about 4,700 km across central part
one of Africa's longest rivers, which travels about 4,700 km across central parts of the continent before reaching the Atlantic Ocean.
Jenna saw photographs her uncle took of the Congo River's broad, fast-moving waters near Kisangani.
proper noun as topic: the Congo River
The Congo River provides drinking water and fish to communities along its path.
Karim learned that the Congo River is the second-longest river in Africa.
comparative structure with geographical proper noun
Ayesha's geography project focused on the animals living near the Congo River.
British and Portuguese explorers mapped large sections of the Congo River in the 1870s while searching for inland trade routes.
- the Congo River
- along the Congo
- Congo basin
Grammar Patterns
the Congo River
Congo (as river name)
Usage Note
Always takes the definite article when referring to the river: 'the Congo River' or simply 'the Congo'.
Common Mistakes
2. a country in west central Africa, on the western side of the lower Congo River,
a country in west central Africa, on the western side of the lower Congo River, with Brazzaville as its capital.
The Republic of the Congo produces oil and timber for export.
country name as subject
Adina visited the Republic of the Congo to study rainforest wildlife.
Fatima filled out her school registration form in French, the official language of the Republic of the Congo.
personal scene showing official language use
Brazzaville, the capital of the Republic of the Congo, lies on the north bank of the Congo River.
capital city + river location
Ekoue's family drove across the border from Gabon into the Republic of the Congo for the holiday.
cross-border travel context with family
- the Republic of the Congo
- Congo-Brazzaville
- capital Brazzaville
- Congo-Brazzaville
informal name used to avoid confusion with the DRC
Grammar Patterns
the Republic of the Congo
Usage Note
Also called Congo-Brazzaville to distinguish it from the larger Democratic Republic of the Congo. The definite article is used: 'the Republic of the Congo'.
Common Mistakes
3. one of the largest countries in Africa, situated around the Congo River basin, w
one of the largest countries in Africa, situated around the Congo River basin, with Kinshasa as its capital; formerly known as Zaire.
Looking at the map, Amara was amazed that the Democratic Republic of the Congo stretches across much of central Africa.
personal reaction to country's vast size
Yuna's cousin works as a nurse at a rural hospital in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Mohamed's uncle works at a copper mine in the southern Democratic Republic of the Congo.
personal occupation in mining context
The boat carried passengers along a tributary that flows into the Congo River in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
river travel scene with geographical feature
Putri read a book about the Democratic Republic of the Congo's history in the decades after independence from Belgium in 1960.
historical context with country name
- the Democratic Republic of the Congo
- the DRC
- Congo-Kinshasa
- capital Kinshasa
- DRC
common abbreviation used in news and writing
- Congo-Kinshasa
informal name, from the capital Kinshasa
Grammar Patterns
the Democratic Republic of the Congo
the DRC
Usage Note
Often shortened to 'the DRC' or 'Congo-Kinshasa' in news and informal contexts. The full name 'the Democratic Republic of the Congo' takes the definite article.
Common Mistakes
congo — geographical name
1. a river in central Africa, roughly 4,700 km in length, that travels northward th
a river in central Africa, roughly 4,700 km in length, that travels northward then curves westward toward the Atlantic coast, where it marks part of the frontier separating the DRC from Angola.
Tamás studied how the river Congo carves deep gorges through the rainforest near his hometown.
alternative word order: 'river Congo'
Ships travel along the Congo to carry goods between inland cities and the coast.
The lower Congo forms part of the border between the DRC and the Republic of the Congo.
river as political boundary
Brooke watched a BBC documentary about fishing communities living along the lower Congo River.
The Congo carries more water than any other African river except the Nile.
- the Congo
- the Congo River
- Congo basin
- along the Congo
- Zaire River
historical name used from 1971 to 1997 while the country was called Zaire
Grammar Patterns
the Congo (river)
the Congo River
Usage Note
When the context is clear, the river can be referred to simply as 'the Congo' rather than 'the Congo River'.
2. One of the largest countries in Africa by land area, home to over 100 million pe
One of the largest countries in Africa by land area, home to over 100 million people across the Congo River basin, with Kinshasa as its capital.
Sana's family moved to the Democratic Republic of the Congo for work in the mining industry.
country name in travel/relocation context
Chloe read about artisanal miners in the Democratic Republic of the Congo who search for diamonds along riverbeds.
reading about mineral wealth with human actors
The main road from Kisangani to Goma in the Democratic Republic of the Congo turns muddy during the rainy season.
Dahlia donated money to a primary school in the rural Democratic Republic of the Congo that needed new textbooks.
humanitarian context
Jean-Luc moved to Kinshasa, the bustling capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to study at the university.
relocation to capital for education
- the Democratic Republic of the Congo
- the DRC
- Congo-Kinshasa
- DRC
standard abbreviation
- Congo-Kinshasa
informal name derived from its capital
Grammar Patterns
the Democratic Republic of the Congo
the DRC
Usage Note
Frequently abbreviated to DRC in news headlines and informal writing. Distinguish from the Republic of the Congo (Congo-Brazzaville), which is a smaller neighbouring country.
Common Mistakes
3. The smaller of the two Congos, lying on the west bank of the lower Congo River,
The smaller of the two Congos, lying on the west bank of the lower Congo River, covered largely by rainforest, with Brazzaville as its capital.
Rachid travelled to the Republic of the Congo for a conference on forest protection.
country name in travel context
Pablo works as an engineer on an oil platform off the coast of the Republic of the Congo.
personal occupation in oil industry
Andrés wrote a school report on traditional drumming and dance from the Republic of the Congo.
Grandmother Nsimba still remembers the celebrations when the Republic of the Congo gained independence in 1960.
personal memory of historical event
Brazzaville, the capital of the Republic of the Congo, sits across the river from Kinshasa.
- the Republic of the Congo
- Congo-Brazzaville
- Congo-Brazzaville
informal name, from the capital Brazzaville
Grammar Patterns
the Republic of the Congo
Congo-Brazzaville
Usage Note
Also called Congo-Brazzaville. The two Congos face each other across the Congo River — Brazzaville and Kinshasa are the closest capital cities in the world by direct distance.