spanish west africa: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowAcademic / Historical
Quick answer
What does “spanish west africa” mean?
A historical collective term for Spain's former colonial possessions in West Africa, primarily comprising the territories now known as Western Sahara and parts of Morocco, administered as a single entity from the mid-20th century until decolonization.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A historical collective term for Spain's former colonial possessions in West Africa, primarily comprising the territories now known as Western Sahara and parts of Morocco, administered as a single entity from the mid-20th century until decolonization.
In contemporary usage, refers to the historical period of Spanish colonial administration in that region, the cultural and political legacy of that administration, and sometimes the geographical area itself as a historical entity.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is identical in both varieties; the term is a specific historical proper noun.
Connotations
Neutral historical descriptor.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both BrE and AmE, confined to historical texts.
Grammar
How to Use “spanish west africa” in a Sentence
be + Spanish West Africarefer to + Spanish West Africaadminister + Spanish West AfricaVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “spanish west africa” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Spain sought to administer Spanish West Africa until 1975.
American English
- The region was governed as Spanish West Africa for decades.
adverb
British English
- The territory was administered Spanish West Africa-style from Madrid.
American English
- It was governed similarly to other Spanish West Africa-held territories.
adjective
British English
- The Spanish West African administration was based in Sidi Ifni.
American English
- He studied Spanish West African colonial policy.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in historical, political science, and African studies contexts to denote the specific colonial entity.
Everyday
Extremely rare.
Technical
Used in precise historical and geopolitical discourse.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “spanish west africa”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “spanish west africa”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “spanish west africa”
- Using lower case ('spanish west africa').
- Confusing it with modern Spain or Latin America.
- Using it as a demonym (e.g., 'He is Spanish West African' is highly atypical).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a historical term. The territories it comprised are now part of Morocco and the disputed territory of Western Sahara.
As a unified administrative entity, it existed from 1946 until 1958 (for parts) and finally until Spain's withdrawal from the Sahara in 1975.
It primarily consisted of the colony of Spanish Sahara (now Western Sahara) and the protectorate and later province of Sidi Ifni (returned to Morocco in 1969).
It is used by historians and political scientists to describe Spain's colonial administration and geopolitical strategy in that specific region during the 20th century.
A historical collective term for Spain's former colonial possessions in West Africa, primarily comprising the territories now known as Western Sahara and parts of Morocco, administered as a single entity from the mid-20th century until decolonization.
Spanish west africa is usually academic / historical in register.
Spanish west africa: in British English it is pronounced /ˈspæn.ɪʃ ˌwest ˈæf.rɪ.kə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈspæn.ɪʃ ˌwest ˈæf.rɪ.kə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
SPANISH WEST AFRICA: SPAin's colonial holdings that were West of the continent's centre, In Africa.
Conceptual Metaphor
A COLONY IS A POSSESSION.
Practice
Quiz
What does 'Spanish West Africa' primarily refer to?