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Glite Dictionary
Cape Verde Islands

Cape Verde Islands

3.9
A group of islands in the Atlantic Ocean off the west coast of Africa now called Cabo Verde
  • proper noun
  • /keɪp vɜrd ˈaɪləndz/
translation icon : Islas de Cabo Verde
  • They were mostly from the Cape Verde Islands, Guinea (called Portuguese), Angola, and Sao Tome.

Examples

  • Many tourists visit the Cape Verde Islands for their beautiful beaches and warm climate.

  • 1445-1461 Portuguese explorers reached the Cape Verde Islands and Guinea by 1461 and began the Atlantic slave trade.

    Academic text (1992)

  • The Cape Verde Islands are known for their vibrant culture and rich history.

  • After studying the geography of Africa, I became fascinated by the Cape Verde Islands.

Synonyms

Cape Verde
vsCape Verde Islands
1 3.5

An island country in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of West Africa, officially called Cabo Verde

is the geographic group of islands known by the older place name
Republic of Cape Verde
vsCape Verde Islands
  • Formal
3.7

A country of ten volcanic islands in the Atlantic Ocean off West Africa

is the general group of islands referred to by the historical name

Surface Forms

Cape Verde Islands main

Morphology

cape + Verde + island

This is a compositional place name built from geographic nouns: 'cape' (promontory) + 'Verde' (meaning 'green' in Iberian languages or part of the proper name) + 'islands' (land surrounded by water). A B1 learner who knows the constituent words can readily infer it refers to a group of islands associated with a cape called 'Verde' (Cabo Verde), so the meaning is transparently derived from the parts.

Etymology

Cape Verde Islands gets its name from the Portuguese Cabo Verde, which means 'green cape'. Early sailors saw a green headland on the nearby African coast and used that name for the islands, and today the country still calls itself 'Cabo Verde'.