Is Cotonou the capital of Benin?

It is the de facto seat of government and largest city, but the official constitutional capital is Porto-Novo.

How is Cotonou pronounced in American English?

Approximately /ˌkoʊ.t̬ənˈuː/, with stress on the last syllable.

Why is Cotonou important?

It is Benin's largest city, main port, and primary economic and administrative centre.

Can 'Cotonou' be used as a common noun?

No, it is exclusively a proper noun, the name of a specific city.

Is “cotonou” formal?

Cotonou is usually formal, geographical, political in register.

cotonou: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

UK/ˌkɒt.əˈnuː/US/ˌkoʊ.t̬ənˈuː/

Formal, geographical, political

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Quick answer

What does “cotonou” mean?

The official capital city of Benin in West Africa.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

The official capital city of Benin in West Africa.

A major port city and the seat of government in Benin, also a significant economic and administrative hub.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

No significant lexical differences. British English may use 'capital city' more explicitly, while American English may just say 'Cotonou'.

Connotations

Neutral geographical reference in both. For most English speakers, it's a low-frequency, factual place name.

Frequency

Extremely low frequency in general English. Slightly more common in contexts discussing West African politics, development, or geography.

Grammar

How to Use “cotonou” in a Sentence

[PREP] CotonouCotonou [VERB][ADJ] Cotonou

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong

port of Cotonoucity of CotonouCotonou, Benin

medium

located in Cotonoutravel to Cotonougovernment in Cotonou

weak

from Cotonouthrough Cotonouaround Cotonou

Examples

Examples of “cotonou” in a Sentence

verb

British English

No verb form exists.

American English

No verb form exists.

adverb

British English

No adverb form exists.

American English

No adverb form exists.

adjective

British English

The Cotonou port authority.

American English

Cotonou-based businesses.

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Refers to location for trade, shipping, and regional headquarters in West Africa.

Academic

Used in geography, political science, and African studies contexts.

Everyday

Rarely used unless discussing travel, news from Benin, or world capitals.

Technical

Used in logistics, maritime shipping, and diplomatic communications.

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “cotonou”

Strong

Benin's capital

Neutral

the capitalthe port city

Weak

the administrative centrethe economic hub

Vocabulary

Antonyms of “cotonou”

rural areavillage countryside

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “cotonou”

Misspelling as 'Cotonue', 'Cotono', or 'Cottonou'.
Using it as a common noun.
Incorrect capitalization.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

: It is the de facto seat of government and largest city, but the official constitutional capital is Porto-Novo.
: Approximately /ˌkoʊ.t̬ənˈuː/, with stress on the last syllable.
: It is Benin's largest city, main port, and primary economic and administrative centre.
: No, it is exclusively a proper noun, the name of a specific city.
: The official capital city of Benin in West Africa.
: Cotonou is usually formal, geographical, political in register.

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

“No idioms exist for this proper noun.”

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think 'Cotton' + 'New': Imagine a city where new types of cotton are traded.

Conceptual Metaphor

None applicable for a toponym.

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap

The main port of Benin is located in .

Multiple Choice

Cotonou is primarily known as: