Niger-Congo

noun

Ni·​ger-Con·​go ˌnī-jər-ˈkäŋ-(ˌ)gō How to pronounce Niger-Congo (audio)
: a language family that includes the Mande and Kwa branches and that is spoken by most of the indigenous peoples of west, central, and south Africa

Examples of Niger-Congo in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
The Bantu descend from many Bantu ethnic groups, primarily from the Niger-Congo region of Africa. Jocelyn Ruggiero, BostonGlobe.com, 1 Aug. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Niger (river) + Congo (river)

First Known Use

circa 1949, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Niger-Congo was circa 1949

Dictionary Entries Near Niger-Congo

Cite this Entry

“Niger-Congo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Niger-Congo. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!