benue
benue Lexical Profile
• noun
A major river in West Africa, flowing from the Adamawa Plateau in northern Cameroon westwards into Nigeria, where it serves as the largest tributary of the Niger River.
A state in the North Central geopolitical zone of Nigeria, named after the river and renowned nationally for its rich agricultural output.
"Often called the 'Food Basket of the Nation', Benue produces a significant portion of Nigeria's yam, soybean, and sesame crops."
Word Nuance & Usage
As a proper noun, 'Benue' should always be capitalized in standard writing. It primarily refers to either the Benue River or the Nigerian state named after it.
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from the Batta (Bata) language word 'Bénuwé', translating to 'Mother of Waters', a reference to its size and importance as a major river in West Africa.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.