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
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Other large language families include the reconstructed mother tongue called Niger-Congo, which gave rise to some 1,500 languages spoken over most of Sub-Saharan Africa, including Igbo, Yoruba, and Zulu. Martha Barnette august 6, Literary Hub, 6 Aug. 2025 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

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Cite this Entry

“Niger-Congo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Niger-Congo. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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