spanish sahara: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal/Historical/Geographical
Quick answer
What does “spanish sahara” mean?
A former Spanish colony in northwest Africa, now known as Western Sahara.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A former Spanish colony in northwest Africa, now known as Western Sahara.
A geographical and historical term referring to the territory in northwest Africa that was under Spanish administration from 1884 to 1975, now a disputed territory claimed by Morocco and the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in usage between British and American English. Both use it as a proper noun referring to the historical territory.
Connotations
Historical colonial context; evokes mid-20th century geopolitics and decolonization.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both varieties, appearing mainly in historical texts.
Grammar
How to Use “spanish sahara” in a Sentence
[The] Spanish Sahara [was/verb]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “spanish sahara” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The region was administered as Spanish Sahara.
American English
- Spain governed the area known as Spanish Sahara.
adjective
British English
- The Spanish Sahara coastline is extensive.
American English
- The Spanish Sahara border was disputed.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in historical context of resource extraction (e.g., phosphate mining).
Academic
Used in history, political science, and geography papers discussing colonialism and decolonization in Africa.
Everyday
Very rare in casual conversation.
Technical
Used in historical cartography, diplomatic documents, and UN resolutions concerning decolonization.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “spanish sahara”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “spanish sahara”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “spanish sahara”
- Using 'Spanish Sahara' to refer to the current political entity (should be 'Western Sahara').
- Misspelling as 'Spanish Saharra' or 'Spanish Saharah'.
- Confusing it with the Spanish territories in North Africa (Ceuta, Melilla).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a historical term for a former colony. The territory is now known as Western Sahara, a disputed non-self-governing territory.
Spanish administration ended in 1975 with the Madrid Accords.
Spanish was the administrative language, alongside indigenous languages like Hassaniya Arabic and Berber languages.
It was named for its colonial ruler (Spain) and its geographical location in the Sahara Desert region.
A former Spanish colony in northwest Africa, now known as Western Sahara.
Spanish sahara is usually formal/historical/geographical in register.
Spanish sahara: in British English it is pronounced /ˌspæn.ɪʃ səˈhɑː.rə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌspæn.ɪʃ səˈhær.ə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'Spain' + 'ish' + 'Sahara' = the part of the Sahara Desert that was Spanish.
Conceptual Metaphor
A LAND IS A POSSESSION (historical colonial metaphor).
Practice
Quiz
What is the modern name for the territory historically known as Spanish Sahara?