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Niger River

Niger River

1 3.4
A large river in western Africa that flows into the Atlantic Ocean
  • proper noun
  • /ˈnaɪdʒər ˈrɪvər/
translation icon : río Níger
  • Tourists often visit the Niger River to explore its diverse wildlife and scenic landscapes.
  • banks of the Niger River

Examples

  • This particular group's range was the desert between the Niger River and the oasis town of Arawan, about a week's journey north of the river.

    Academic text (2007)
  • The water in the Niger River is being poisoned.

  • Yes, but I have good reasons to believe the toxins are in the Niger River.

  • These objects come from mounds on the flood plains of the Niger River.

    Academic text (2000)
  • Strategically positioned near the Niger River, the city owed its rise to trade in gold and slaves, manufactured goods from the Mediterranean, and salt from the desert itself.

    Academic text (2007)
  • To the east, on the Niger River, was Gao, capital of the Songhai Empire, considered one of the three greatest empires that arose in West Africa.

    Academic text (2007)
  • The fabled city of Timbuktu was founded in the eleventh century by nomads seeking shelter from the Sahara Desert on the cool banks of the Niger River.

    Academic text (2004)
  • The Niger River flows through countries like Mali and Nigeria before reaching the Gulf of Guinea.

  • Fishing is a vital activity along the Niger River, supporting local communities for generations.

Synonyms

Niger
vsNiger River
4 4.2

A large river in West Africa that flows into the Gulf of Guinea

is the same watercourse but named with the word river included

Surface Forms

Morphology

Niger + river

The meaning is directly compositional: a proper name 'Niger' combined with the noun 'river' denotes the specific river called Niger. A B1 learner who knows 'river' and recognizes 'Niger' as a place-name (or at least a name) can readily infer it refers to a major river; the name+river construction is cross-linguistically common and therefore transparent.

Etymology

Niger River may come from an old local phrase meaning 'river of rivers'. People used that strong image for the very large waterway, so today Niger River is the name of this major West African river.