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Glite Dictionary
North African

North African

11 2.9
From the northern part of Africa, especially its people and culture
  • adjective
: norteafricano
  • Recent events in other North African states have given him a more urgent impetus to address his country's many problems.
  • North African country
  • North African state
  • North African Muslim

But they were beleaguered by these Moorish groups, in other words, native peoples of the North African desert.

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Examples

  • Chermoula is a mixture of spices used in North African cooking, often to season fish.

    Blog text (17)

  • It is this wonderful North African herb sauce.

  • The first line of cooperation will have to be between North African countries themselves.

    Academic text (2015)

  • The existing Middle Eastern and North African state system began to take shape in the post-World War II period.

    Academic text (1991)

  • Many citizens from the Netherlands have relatives in North African countries or Turkey whom they visit frequently.

    Academic text (2013)

  • The change has come about through immigration, largely from France's former North African colonies.

    Academic text (1996)

  • Similarities in agricultural activities become apparent when Negev practices are compared with those of North African areas during late antiquity.

    Academic text (1991)

  • The major new exhibition is "Display and Modesty: North African Textiles" (October 3, 1995 - spring 1997).

    Academic text (1996)

  • Cooperation between rogue regimes and great powers was also foreshadowed by earlier alliances among the North African coastal polities.

    Academic text (2001)

  • Tunisian cuisine features rich spices and flavors characteristic of North African cooking.

Surface Forms

North African positive

Morphology

North + African

The meaning 'relating to the northern part of Africa' is directly and predictably built from the constituents 'North' (direction/region) and 'African' (connected with Africa). This directional + demonym composition is common across languages and follows a standard compounding pattern, so a B1 learner who knows both words can readily infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

North African comes from joining north and African. It paints a simple image of the top part of the African continent, so it means 'from or about the north of Africa'.