cape province: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Historical, Geographical, Academic
Quick answer
What does “cape province” mean?
A former administrative province of South Africa, originally comprising much of the southern part of the country and centered on the Cape of Good Hope.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A former administrative province of South Africa, originally comprising much of the southern part of the country and centered on the Cape of Good Hope.
The term is primarily used in historical and geographical contexts to refer to the region once governed as a single province, known for its distinct cultural and political history within South Africa, including its periods of Dutch and British colonial rule.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in usage, as the term is proper and context-specific. Both varieties use it primarily in historical/geographical contexts.
Connotations
Conveys a sense of colonial history and the political geography of pre-1994 South Africa.
Frequency
Low frequency in general discourse, but standard in historical, academic, and travel writing about South Africa.
Grammar
How to Use “cape province” in a Sentence
[The] Cape Province [was/dissolved/became][Located] in the Cape ProvinceVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cape province” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- Cape Province architecture
- Cape Province archives
American English
- Cape Province history
- Cape Province borders
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in historical context of South African business.
Academic
Common in history, political science, and African studies texts.
Everyday
Low, used mainly by those discussing South African history or geography.
Technical
Used in historical geography and political history.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cape province”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cape province”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cape province”
- Using 'Cape Province' to refer to the modern Western Cape province (which is only a part of it).
- Capitalizing 'province' when not part of the full proper name (e.g., 'the Cape province').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it was dissolved in 1994 and replaced by the modern provinces of the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, Northern Cape, and parts of North West.
Cape Town served as the capital of the Cape Province.
No, the Western Cape is one of the modern provinces that was created from a part of the former, much larger Cape Province.
It was the first area of South Africa colonized by Europeans (Dutch and later British) and was the political and economic heart of the country for centuries, playing a central role in the development of apartheid.
A former administrative province of South Africa, originally comprising much of the southern part of the country and centered on the Cape of Good Hope.
Cape province is usually historical, geographical, academic in register.
Cape province: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkeɪp ˈprɒvɪns/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkeɪp ˈprɑːvɪns/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The spirit of the old Cape Province”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the CAPE of Good Hope as the PROVINCE that was historically there.
Conceptual Metaphor
A CONTAINER OF HISTORY (the province is seen as a vessel holding a specific colonial and apartheid-era past).
Practice
Quiz
What is the Cape Province best described as today?