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Definition of congolese

congolese

/ˌkɑːŋ.ɡəˈliːz/
Con · go · lese
Plural:Congolese
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congolese Lexical Profile

• adjective

1

Of, relating to, or originating from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of the Congo, the wider Congo River basin in Central Africa, or their peoples and cultures.

Example

"Congolese rumba is widely celebrated across Africa for its intricate guitar melodies and vibrant rhythms."

• noun

1

A native, citizen, or inhabitant of either the Democratic Republic of the Congo or the Republic of the Congo in Central Africa.

Example

"Millions of Congolese participated in the national elections held across the country."

Word Nuance & Usage

Because two distinct sovereign nations share the name Congo—the Democratic Republic of the Congo (capital Kinshasa) and the Republic of the Congo (capital Brazzaville)—the demonym and adjective "Congolese" applies to both and often requires geographical context to avoid ambiguity.

• Rhymes for congolese

• Nearby Words

conglomerate
conglomeration
congo
congolese
congratulate
congratulation
congratulations

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed from "Congo" (derived from the Kongo kingdom and the Bantu word "nkongo", meaning hunter) combined with the suffix "-ese" (from Latin "-ensis", denoting origin or place).

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Congolese. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/congolese
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