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Glite Dictionary
Spanish Guinea

Spanish Guinea

7.9
An old name for Equatorial Guinea used when Spain ruled it
  • proper noun
translation icon : Guinea Española
  • The territory known as Spanish Guinea gained independence and became Equatorial Guinea in 1968.

Examples

  • Many documents from the mid-20th century still refer to Equatorial Guinea as Spanish Guinea.

  • During colonial times, Spanish Guinea was governed directly from Madrid.

  • The country was once known as Spanish Guinea.

  • After gaining independence, Spanish Guinea became Equatorial Guinea.

  • Many documents from the mid-20th century still refer to Equatorial Guinea as Spanish Guinea.

  • The territory known as Spanish Guinea gained independence and became Equatorial Guinea in 1968.

  • During colonial times, Spanish Guinea was governed directly from Madrid.

Synonyms

Equatorial Guinea
vsSpanish Guinea
5.3

A country in west central Africa that includes islands in the Gulf of Guinea

refers to the earlier colonial name used before independence in 1968
Republic of Equatorial Guinea
vsSpanish Guinea
7.2

A country in west central Africa with a mainland region and nearby islands in the Gulf of Guinea

is the former colonial name for the territory before independence in 1968

Surface Forms

Spanish Guinea main

Morphology

Spanish + Guinea

The meaning is directly compositional: 'Spanish' (of or from Spain) plus 'Guinea' (the place) signals the part of Guinea associated with Spain, i.e. the former Spanish colony. This pattern of language/national adjective + place is cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both words would readily infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Spanish Guinea comes from Spain's rule over a region of western Africa called 'Guinea'. Putting Spanish before Guinea showed it was the part of 'Guinea' controlled by Spain, which is why the territory had that name until it became Equatorial Guinea in 1968.