swaziland

IPA/ˈswɑː.zi.lænd/
KK[swˈɑzɪlənd]IPA/ˈswɑː.zi.lænd/

swaziland — noun

1. the name that was used in the past for the southern African country that is now

1.nounA2
Definition

the name that was used in the past for the southern African country that is now officially called Eswatini

Example

Before 2018, the country was known as Swaziland rather than Eswatini.

Many old travel guides still list the kingdom under its former name of Swaziland.

former name in historical references

Common collocations
  • known as Swaziland
  • called Swaziland
  • former name of Swaziland
  • under the name Swaziland
Synonyms

Grammar Patterns

used as a country name in historical contexts

Usage Note

Swaziland was the English name of the country until April 2018, when King Mswati III officially renamed it the Kingdom of Eswatini. The name change marked 50 years of independence from British rule. In Taiwan, the old Chinese name 史瓦濟蘭 has also been updated to 史瓦帝尼.

Common Mistakes

I am planning a trip to Swaziland next month' (when referring to the current country).
I am planning a trip to Eswatini next month.
The country renamed itself in 2018, so use the current name for present-day references.

swaziland — geographical name

Word family

  • Swazi
    nounA2
  • Swazi
    adjectiveB1
  • Eswatini
    geographical nameA2
  • siSwati
    nounB1

Synonym discussion

Sense: geographical name/1

Swaziland is the former English name of the country now called Eswatini. The change was made in 2018 by King Mswati III. 'Eswatini' means 'land of the Swazi' in the siSwati language and is the current official name. 'Kingdom of Eswatini' is the full formal title used in official documents and diplomacy. In everyday speech, most people now say 'Eswatini' when talking about the country today. 'Swaziland' is still understood and appears in historical references, older books, and maps published before 2018 — for example, 'The king announced that Swaziland would become Eswatini during the independence celebration.'

Swaziland ↗Eswatini ↗Kingdom of Eswatini

Common collocations

Nouns

  • king of Swaziland
  • people of Swaziland
  • government of Swaziland
  • independence of Swaziland

Phrases

  • known as Swaziland
  • called Swaziland
  • formerly Swaziland
  • under the name Swaziland

Prepositions

  • in Swaziland
  • of Swaziland
  • to Swaziland
  • from Swaziland

Etymology

siSwatiEnglish

The name 'Swaziland' combines 'Swazi', the name of the ethnic group and language of the people, with the English suffix '-land' meaning 'land of'. The Swazi people take their name from King Mswati I, a 19th-century ruler of the kingdom. In 2018, the country changed its name to 'Eswatini', which means 'land of the Swazi' in the siSwati language, restoring a name closer to the original meaning.