English Explanatory Dictionary

Sierra Leone

English dictionary entry

Meanings

name
  1. A country in West Africa. Official name: Republic of Sierra Leone.

Pronunciation

/siˌɛɹə liˈoʊn/ En-us-Sierra Leone.ogg LL-Q1860 (eng)-Soundguys-Sierra Leone.wav

Word forms

Sierra Leone

Etymology

From Italian sierra (“mountain range”) + leone (“lion”) (via Venetian), itself from Portuguese Serra Leoa (“lioness mountains”), as the area was described to the rest of Europe by Venetian explorer Alvise Cadamosto; in reference to the Lion Mountains (named by Pedro de Sintra in 1462).

Related words

Countries of the world

Derived words

Sierra Leonean Sierra Leone peach Sierra Leone River Sierra Leonian
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