djibouti

IPA/dʒɪˈbuːti/
KK[dʒɪbˈutˌi]IPA/dʒɪˈbuːti/

djibouti — noun

1. a small nation in East Africa, located on the Gulf of Aden near the southern ent

1.noun
Definition

a small nation in East Africa, located on the Gulf of Aden near the southern entrance to the Red Sea, with a hot desert climate and a deep-water port that drives its economy

Example

Fatima was born in Djibouti and moved to France when she was twelve.

Djibouti sits at the narrow point where the Red Sea meets the Gulf of Aden.

Djibouti + sit at a narrow point — describing a country's location

Common collocations
  • the Republic of Djibouti
  • in Djibouti
  • visit Djibouti

Usage Note

Often referred to by its full formal name 'the Republic of Djibouti' in official writing and news reports.

2. the capital and principal port city of the Republic of Djibouti, situated on the

2.noun
Definition

the capital and principal port city of the Republic of Djibouti, situated on the Gulf of Aden and serving as the country's economic centre

Example

Omar walked through the central market in Djibouti, past stalls piled high with spices.

in Djibouti + urban navigation — describing movement within the city

The streets of Djibouti were packed with shoppers before the Eid holiday.

Common collocations
  • Djibouti city
  • the port of Djibouti
  • downtown Djibouti

Usage Note

Distinguish from sense 1: when Djibouti refers to the city rather than the country, the surrounding context — mention of streets, markets, ports, or neighbourhoods — usually makes the meaning clear.

Common Mistakes

I spent two days in Djibouti and saw the whole country.
I spent two days in Djibouti city, but the country has much more to explore.
Djibouti can mean either the capital or the nation; add 'city' or context words to avoid confusion.

Common collocations

Phrases

  • visit Djibouti

Prepositions

  • in Djibouti
  • from Djibouti

Etymology

AfarFrenchEnglish

The name Djibouti probably comes from an Afar word. One widely repeated account traces it to the Afar phrase 'gabouti,' meaning a kind of woven mat; another connects it to a local legend about a hunter named Jab Bouti. French colonists adopted the name for the port settlement in the late nineteenth century, and it later became the name of the independent republic in 1977.