caprivi strip: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very low frequency (geography/history specialist term)Formal, academic, journalistic (when discussing African geography/history)
Quick answer
What does “caprivi strip” mean?
A narrow strip of land extending from Namibia's northeastern border, reaching eastward to the Zambezi River.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A narrow strip of land extending from Namibia's northeastern border, reaching eastward to the Zambezi River.
A geopolitical entity, historically significant due to colonial-era territorial arrangements giving German South-West Africa access to the Zambezi; currently a Namibian administrative region.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in usage, spelling, or meaning between UK and US English.
Connotations
Neutral geographical/political descriptor in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally rare in both UK and US general discourse, appearing primarily in contexts of African studies, historical geography, or world news.
Grammar
How to Use “caprivi strip” in a Sentence
the Caprivi Strip + verb (e.g., extends, borders, separates)in/to/through + the Caprivi StripVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “caprivi strip” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- Caprivi Strip communities
- a Caprivi Strip itinerary
American English
- Caprivi Strip wildlife
- Caprivi Strip infrastructure
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, potentially in reports on tourism, logistics, or cross-border trade in Southern Africa.
Academic
Used in geography, African studies, political science, and colonial history.
Everyday
Extremely rare, unlikely in general conversation outside specific geographical or historical discussion.
Technical
Used in cartography, geopolitical analysis, and regional security reports.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “caprivi strip”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “caprivi strip”
- Misspelling as 'Caprivi Stripe' or 'Caprive Strip'.
- Using lowercase ('caprivi strip').
- Confusing it with the 'Okavango' region to its west.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It was officially renamed the Zambezi Region in 2013, though 'Caprivi Strip' remains widely used in historical and international contexts.
It was named after German Chancellor Leo von Caprivi, who negotiated the treaty acquiring the territory for Germany in 1890.
It borders Angola to the north, Botswana to the south, Zambia to the northeast, and Zimbabwe to the east (near Kazungula).
It connects Namibia to the Zambezi River system and places four of the country's borders in close proximity, making it a strategic crossroads.
A narrow strip of land extending from Namibia's northeastern border, reaching eastward to the Zambezi River.
Caprivi strip is usually formal, academic, journalistic (when discussing african geography/history) in register.
Caprivi strip: in British English it is pronounced /kəˌpriːvi ˈstrɪp/, and in American English it is pronounced /kəˈprivi ˈstrɪp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a CAP RIver IVI (IV = 4) forming a STRIP of land. Think: 'The CAPtivating RIver's IVth branch creates a STRIP.'
Conceptual Metaphor
A CORRIDOR (providing access), A FINGER OF LAND (pointing into the continent), A PANHANDLE (a narrow extension).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary reason for the Caprivi Strip's distinctive shape?