colombian: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Neutral. Appropriate in formal, academic, and informal contexts.
Quick answer
What does “colombian” mean?
Of, from, or related to the South American country of Colombia, or its people, culture, or language.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Of, from, or related to the South American country of Colombia, or its people, culture, or language.
Can sometimes be used metonymically to refer to products from Colombia (e.g., Colombian coffee, Colombian emeralds). Also used to describe a person's national or ethnic identity.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is identical in meaning and application. Spelling and pronunciation are consistent.
Connotations
In both varieties, primary connotations relate to the country's exports (coffee, flowers), geography, and, in contemporary contexts, sometimes to its history and cultural renaissance.
Frequency
Frequency is similar, driven by global news, trade, and cultural discussions.
Grammar
How to Use “colombian” in a Sentence
[be] + Colombian[of] Colombian originColombian [noun]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “colombian” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The Colombian ambassador hosted a reception.
- She prefers the rich flavour of Colombian coffee.
American English
- The Colombian ambassador hosted a reception.
- He's a proud Colombian-American entrepreneur.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Referring to trade, imports/exports, and economic partnerships.
Academic
Used in geography, political science, sociology, and cultural studies.
Everyday
Discussing nationality, travel, food, and culture.
Technical
In legal contexts for citizenship; in commodity trading for coffee, oil, etc.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “colombian”
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “colombian”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “colombian”
- Misspelling as 'Columbian'. Incorrectly using as a language name (the language is Spanish).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Colombian' refers to the country Colombia. 'Columbian' refers to Christopher Columbus or things named after him, like Columbia University or the District of Columbia.
It can describe the accent or regional dialect (e.g., Colombian Spanish), but the language itself is Spanish. One is not 'speaking Colombian'.
Yes, as an adjective it is the same (a Colombian woman, a Colombian man). As a noun, 'Colombian' is gender-neutral in English, though some may use 'Colombiana' for a woman in specific cultural contexts.
While 'Colombian' is the national demonym, city-specific ones exist: someone from Bogotá is a 'Bogotano/a', and from Medellín is a 'Medellinense' or 'Paisa' (for the region).
Of, from, or related to the South American country of Colombia, or its people, culture, or language.
Colombian is usually neutral. appropriate in formal, academic, and informal contexts. in register.
Colombian: in British English it is pronounced /kəˈlɒm.bi.ən/, and in American English it is pronounced /kəˈlʌm.bi.ən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Have more twists than a Colombian mountain road (informal, rare)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Remember the spelling: ColOmbian has an 'O' like the country ColOmbia. Not ColUmbian.
Conceptual Metaphor
NATIONALITY IS ORIGIN (A Colombian is from the container/space of Colombia).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the correct spelling when referring to a person from Colombia?