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Definition of cotonou
cotonou
/ˌkoʊtəˈnuː/
Co · to · nou
cotonou Lexical Profile
CEFR
C1
Grade
8
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
The largest city and economic hub of Benin, located in West Africa along the Atlantic Ocean, which houses many of the country's government and diplomatic functions despite Porto-Novo being the official capital.
Example
"The bustling port of Cotonou serves as a vital economic gateway not only for Benin but also for neighboring landlocked countries in West Africa."
• Rhymes for cotonou
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from the Fon phrase 'ku-to-nu', meaning 'mouth of the river of death' or 'at the lake of the dead', referring to its location near Lake Nokoué.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Cotonou. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 14, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/cotonou