african: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal, academic, journalistic, and everyday neutral.
Quick answer
What does “african” mean?
Relating to the continent of Africa, its peoples, or its cultures.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Relating to the continent of Africa, its peoples, or its cultures.
Referring broadly to the characteristics, origins, or influences associated with Africa or people of African descent.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Capitalization conventions are identical. The region 'Southern Africa' is commonly used in both, while 'sub-Saharan Africa' is standard in academic contexts.
Connotations
Neutral geographical/cultural descriptor in both varieties. Context determines specific national or regional focus.
Frequency
Similar high frequency in both varieties due to its geographical, political, and cultural relevance.
Grammar
How to Use “african” in a Sentence
[be] + African[of] + African + [origin/descent/heritage][adjective] + African + [noun]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “african” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The museum has a superb collection of African art.
- He is of African and Caribbean descent.
American English
- The African elephant population needs protection.
- She studied African American literature.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in market analysis (e.g., 'African markets'), trade agreements (e.g., 'African Growth and Opportunity Act').
Academic
Central in fields like African Studies, history, anthropology, and political science (e.g., 'post-colonial African states').
Everyday
Describing origin, food, music, or travel (e.g., 'African cuisine', 'She is African').
Technical
In biology/zoology for species classification (e.g., 'African wild dog', 'African clawed frog').
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “african”
Strong
Neutral
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “african”
- Uncapitalized in formal/proper noun contexts (e.g., 'african countries' should be 'African countries').
- Over-generalizing when referring to the diverse cultures of 54+ countries.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, when it refers directly to the continent, its people, or cultures (proper adjective). It is lowercased in some non-proper compound plant/animal names (e.g., african violet).
'African' refers broadly to Africa. 'Afrikaner' specifically denotes a South African ethnic group descended from predominantly Dutch settlers.
Yes, as a countable noun (e.g., 'He is an African'). However, it's often more precise to specify nationality (e.g., 'a Nigerian').
Yes, in the context of the diaspora (e.g., 'African Americans', 'people of African descent living in Europe').
Relating to the continent of Africa, its peoples, or its cultures.
African is usually formal, academic, journalistic, and everyday neutral. in register.
African: in British English it is pronounced /ˈæfrɪkən/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈæfrɪkən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “African time (informal, potentially stereotypical)”
- “out of Africa (referencing origin or the film/novel)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Remember the continent 'Africa' + the suffix '-n' (like 'American' from America).
Conceptual Metaphor
AFRICA IS A SOURCE (of culture, origin, life); AFRICAN IS AN ATTRIBUTE OF DIVERSITY.
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'African' used correctly as a proper adjective?