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Glite Dictionary
Bight of Benin

Bight of Benin

8.6
A wide bay on the west coast of Africa by the Gulf of Guinea
  • proper noun
translation icon : Bahía de Benín
  • The coast along the Bight of Benin is home to diverse marine life and important ports.

Examples

  • The Bight of Benin is notorious for its treacherous currents and unpredictable weather.

  • The Bight of Benin is located on the western coast of Africa, providing a crucial route for shipping.

  • Several European ships anchored in the Bight of Benin during the height of the slave trade.

  • The Bight of Benin is known for its rich marine biodiversity.

  • Many fishing communities thrive around the Bight of Benin.

  • Many fishing communities rely on the resources found in the Bight of Benin for their livelihoods.

  • Tourists often visit the Bight of Benin to enjoy its beautiful beaches and vibrant culture.

Surface Forms

Bight of Benin main

Morphology

bight + of + Benin

The phrase is fully compositional: 'bight' means a broad curve of coast or bay and 'of Benin' locates it by the country name, so a learner who knows those constituents can infer it refers to a bay on/near Benin. The place-name pattern 'X of Y' (name + genitive) is cross-linguistically common, reinforcing that the meaning is directly derivable from the parts.

Etymology

Bight of Benin comes from the old use of bight to mean a 'wide curve' or 'bay' along the coast, so picture the shore bending in like a big open mouth where ships could shelter. That's why the name refers to the large bay on the West African coast.