surinam: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal (when referring to the country), Neutral/Historical (when used in historical contexts)
Quick answer
What does “surinam” mean?
A country on the northeastern coast of South America.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A country on the northeastern coast of South America.
The former name for the Republic of Suriname; used to refer to anything related to this country, including its people, culture, language (Sranan Tongo), or colonial history. May also refer to the historical English colony (Surinam) and the broader region (Suriname River basin).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
UK English retains historical 'Surinam' slightly more often in historical contexts (e.g., British colonial history). US English more consistently uses the modern 'Suriname'. The pronunciation difference is minimal.
Connotations
In both varieties, "Surinam" can evoke colonial history; "Suriname" is neutral and modern.
Frequency
"Suriname" is more frequent than "Surinam" in contemporary usage in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “surinam” in a Sentence
[be/located] in Surinam[travel/come] from Surinam[colonize/rule] SurinamVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “surinam” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- (No standard verb form)
American English
- (No standard verb form)
adverb
British English
- (No standard adverb form)
American English
- (No standard adverb form)
adjective
British English
- The Surinam cherry is native to the region.
- Surinam history is complex.
American English
- The Surinam toad has a unique reproductive method.
- Surinam ecosystems are diverse.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in trade or reports concerning the country, e.g., 'exports from Surinam'.
Academic
Frequent in historical, geographical, or anthropological texts discussing colonial South America.
Everyday
Rare; primarily in travel or news contexts.
Technical
Found in biological taxonomy (e.g., Surinam cockroach, Pipa pipa 'Surinam toad'), historical cartography.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “surinam”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “surinam”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “surinam”
- Using 'Surinam' as the adjective form (correct: Surinamese).
- Confusing 'Surinam' with 'Surname'.
- Using 'Surinam' in modern official contexts where 'Suriname' is required.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Surinam' is the historical English name for the country. 'Suriname' is the official name adopted at independence in 1978 and is used in all modern contexts.
In most modern geographical and political contexts, 'Suriname' is preferred and more accurate. 'Surinam' is acceptable in historical discussions or in fixed names like 'Surinam toad'.
A person from Suriname is called a Surinamese (from the modern name).
It was briefly an English colony (1650-1667) before being traded to the Netherlands in exchange for New Amsterdam (New York). It is more famously known as Dutch Guiana, a Dutch colony.
A country on the northeastern coast of South America.
Surinam is usually formal (when referring to the country), neutral/historical (when used in historical contexts) in register.
Surinam: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsʊər.ɪˈnæm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsʊr.ɪˈnɑːm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(no common idioms directly featuring 'Surinam')”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'SURe, I NAM(e) the country, but the old spelling misses the E at the end.'
Conceptual Metaphor
A JEWEL OF DIVERSITY (referring to its multicultural population); A FORGOTTEN COLONY (in historical narrative).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the modern official name of the country historically known as Surinam?