Main Entry:

Ni·ger

Pronunciation:

\ˈnī-jər, nē-ˈzher\

Function:

geographical name

1 river 2600 miles (4184 kilometers) W Africa flowing from Fouta Djallon NE, SE, & S into Gulf of Guinea 2 country W Africa; a republic, until 1958 a territory of French West Africa ∗ Niamey area 459,073 square miles (1,188,999 square kilometers), population 8,516,000

— Ni·ger·ien \ˌnī-ˌjir-ē-ˈen, nē-ˈzher-ē-ən\ adjective or noun

— Ni·ger·ois \ˌnē-zhər-ˈwä, -zher-\ noun