ivory coast
B1Formal, neutral, historical, journalistic, geographical
Definition
Meaning
The former official name for a country on the west coast of Africa, bordered by Ghana, Liberia, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea, with its southern coast on the Gulf of Guinea.
A term used historically and still commonly in English to refer to the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, especially in non-diplomatic contexts. The name derives from the region's historical trade in elephant ivory.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The name 'Ivory Coast' is a direct English translation of the French 'Côte d'Ivoire'. Since 1986, the Ivorian government has requested that the country be referred to by its French name, 'Côte d'Ivoire', in all languages to avoid translation and ensure consistency. However, 'Ivory Coast' remains widely used in English-language media, atlases, and everyday speech.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in use or meaning. Both varieties commonly use 'Ivory Coast', though style guides in both regions increasingly recommend 'Côte d'Ivoire'.
Connotations
Neutral geographical descriptor. Use of 'Ivory Coast' may be perceived as slightly dated or less formally correct by those aware of the official request, but it is not pejorative.
Frequency
Comparable frequency in both varieties. 'Ivory Coast' is likely still more frequent in general English than 'Côte d'Ivoire'.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
in + Ivory Coastfrom + Ivory Coastto + Ivory Coastof + Ivory CoastVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Common in reports on cocoa, coffee, or oil markets (e.g., 'Cocoa exports from Ivory Coast have risen').
Academic
Used in historical, geographical, or political science texts, often with a note on the official name (e.g., 'The country, referred to in English as Ivory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire)...').
Everyday
Used in general conversation, news, and travel contexts (e.g., 'Did you see the football match? Ivory Coast won.').
Technical
Used in geography, cartography, and international sports (FIFA, Olympics) where the English exonym is still standard.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- Ivorian (e.g., Ivorian cuisine, Ivorian embassy)
- Ivory Coast (attributive, e.g., Ivory Coast diplomacy)
American English
- Ivorian (e.g., Ivorian exports, Ivorian policy)
- Ivory Coast (attributive, e.g., Ivory Coast initiative)
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Ivory Coast is in Africa.
- Abidjan is a big city in Ivory Coast.
- The flag of Ivory Coast is orange, white, and green.
- They produce a lot of cocoa in Ivory Coast.
- Have you ever been to Ivory Coast?
- The Ivory Coast football team is called the Elephants.
- Despite the official request, many English publications still refer to the country as Ivory Coast.
- Ivory Coast's economic growth has been significant in recent years.
- The political situation in Ivory Coast stabilized after the 2010-11 crisis.
- The historical nomenclature 'Ivory Coast' persists in anglophone discourse, even as diplomatic protocols favour 'Côte d'Ivoire'.
- A comparative analysis of post-colonial identity in Ghana and Ivory Coast reveals contrasting trajectories.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the 'ivory' tusks traded from its 'coast' to remember the historical origin of the name.
Conceptual Metaphor
A country as a named place defined by a historical commodity and its geography.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation into Russian as 'Берег Слоновой Кости' in English conversation; use the English term 'Ivory Coast' or 'Côte d'Ivoire'.
- Do not capitalise 'coast' when used on its own ('the coast'), but always capitalise both words in the proper noun 'Ivory Coast'.
Common Mistakes
- Writing 'Ivory coast' (incorrect lower case 'c').
- Using 'the' unnecessarily before 'Côte d'Ivoire' (e.g., 'the Côte d'Ivoire' is incorrect).
- Pronouncing 'Côte d'Ivoire' with an English accent on every word; the French pronunciation is generally expected.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the demonym for someone from Ivory Coast?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In formal writing or when following modern style guides, use 'Côte d'Ivoire'. In everyday English conversation and in many media contexts, 'Ivory Coast' is still perfectly understandable and widely used.
Traditionally, the definite article was used ('the Ivory Coast'), similar to 'the Sudan' or 'the Gambia'. Modern usage increasingly drops the 'the', and both forms are encountered. 'Côte d'Ivoire' never takes 'the'.
The standard adjective is 'Ivorian' (e.g., Ivorian culture, Ivorian embassy).
European merchants in the 15th-17th centuries named the region for the valuable elephant ivory traded there, distinguishing it from nearby areas like the 'Gold Coast' (Ghana) and 'Slave Coast'.