djibouti

djibouti — noun

1. a small country in eastern Africa, located on the coast of the Red Sea and the G

1.nounA2
Definition

a small country in eastern Africa, located on the coast of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, between Eritrea and Somalia

Example

Amani learned how Djibouti links the Red Sea and Indian Ocean as a shipping hub.

proper noun, always capitalised

The port of Djibouti handles most of the imports for neighbouring landlocked Ethiopia.

Djibouti + noun (port of Djibouti)

Common collocations
  • the Republic of Djibouti
  • visit Djibouti
  • move to Djibouti
  • in Djibouti
  • the port of Djibouti

Usage Note

Djibouti is always capitalised as a proper noun and takes a singular verb. The country's official name is the Republic of Djibouti.

2. the capital city of Djibouti, a port on the Gulf of Aden where most of the count

2.nounA2
Definition

the capital city of Djibouti, a port on the Gulf of Aden where most of the country's population and businesses are located

Example

The capital city of Djibouti has a busy market near the harbour.

capital city of Djibouti

Lucía flew into Djibouti city that morning and headed straight for the central market.

Common collocations
  • the city of Djibouti
  • in Djibouti
  • Djibouti city
  • downtown Djibouti

Usage Note

This sense refers to the city, not the country. In context it is usually clear which meaning is intended; for clarity, say 'the city of Djibouti' or 'Djibouti city'.

Word family

  • Djiboutian
    adjectiveB2
  • Djiboutian
    nounB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Djibouti, Eritrea, Somalia, and Ethiopia are all countries in the Horn of Africa. Djibouti is by far the smallest of the four, covering only about 23,000 square kilometres — smaller than the city of Taipei. Unlike its landlocked neighbour Ethiopia, Djibouti has a long coastline on the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, making its port vital for regional trade. Eritrea also has a Red Sea coast but is considerably larger. Somalia has a longer coastline and a much larger population but has experienced prolonged instability. Learners should remember that Djibouti is a distinct, independent country — not a city or region of any neighbouring state.

Eritrea ↗SomaliaEthiopia

Common collocations

Nouns

  • the Republic of Djibouti
  • the government of Djibouti
  • the people of Djibouti
  • the coast of Djibouti

Prepositions

  • in Djibouti
  • from Djibouti
  • to Djibouti
  • near Djibouti

Etymology

AfarEnglish

The name 'Djibouti' most likely comes from the Afar word 'gabouri', meaning 'plate' or 'mat' — a reference to the shape of the land when seen from the sea. An alternative theory traces it to the Arabic name 'Jibuti'. The country gained independence from France in 1977.