Sao Tome and Principe
- proper noun
:
Sao Tomé y Príncipe
- Sao Tome and Principe is known for its rich biodiversity and stunning landscapes.
Examples
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Portuguese is the official language of Sao Tome and Principe, reflecting its colonial history.
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Oil exploration has become increasingly important to the economy of Sao Tome and Principe.
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Sao Tome and Principe is beautiful.
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I want to visit Sao Tome and Principe!
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Sao Tome and Principe is a popular destination for ecotourism due to its unique wildlife.
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Many tourists are drawn to the beautiful beaches of Sao Tome and Principe every year.
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Sao Tome and Principe exports cocoa and coffee, which are vital to its economy.
Synonyms
An island country in the South Atlantic off the west coast of Central Africa made of two islands
An island country in the Gulf of Guinea off the west coast of Central Africa
Surface Forms
Morphology
This is a proper name composed of non-English name elements (São, Tomé, Príncipe) joined by 'and', so knowing the literal constituents does not let a B1 learner infer that it refers to an island country off the west coast of Africa. Place names are essentially arbitrary labels and the geographic/political meaning is not transparently built from the parts, making the expression unpredictable without prior exposure.
Etymology
Sao Tome and Principe comes from the names of its two main islands. One popular story says Sao Tome was found on the day of 'Saint Thomas' and Principe was named for a 'prince', so the name literally says 'Saint Thomas and the Prince', which is why the country is named for its two islands.
