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Glite Dictionary
Republic of Benin

Republic of Benin

4.6
The official name of the West African country Benin
  • proper noun
translation icon : República de Benín
  • Tourists often visit the Republic of Benin to experience its vibrant festivals.

Examples

  • Did you know that the Republic of Benin was once a French colony?

  • The Republic of Benin is known for its rich culture and historical sites.

  • Official documents must specify the name as the Republic of Benin.

  • She traveled throughout the Republic of Benin as part of her research on African cultures.

  • The Republic of Benin gained independence from France in 1960.

  • The Republic of Benin is known for its rich cultural heritage.

  • The Republic of Benin gained independence from France in 1960.

Synonyms

Benin
vsRepublic of Benin
7 2.7

A country in West Africa on the Gulf of Guinea

is the official formal state name rather than the common country name

Surface Forms

Republic of Benin main

Morphology

republic + of + Benin

The phrase is a compositional country name: knowing 'republic' (a form of government) and 'Benin' (the country) allows a learner to infer it refers to the state of Benin. This 'Republic of X' pattern is cross-linguistically common and uses a simple genitive/relational structure, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents will readily understand it.

Etymology

Republic of Benin comes from the coast area called the 'Bight of Benin'. Leaders chose the name Benin instead of the old name 'Dahomey' to give the whole country one name, so today Republic of Benin is the country's official name.