malawi

malawi — noun

1. a nation in southeastern Africa, with Zambia lying to its west and Mozambique bo

1.nounA2
Definition

a nation in southeastern Africa, with Zambia lying to its west and Mozambique bordering it on the east and south

Example

Adisa spent two years teaching English in a rural village in Malawi.

prepositional phrase: in Malawi

The coffee beans Ramón bought came from the highlands of southern Malawi.

possessive/genitive: of Malawi

Usage Note

Always capitalise the first letter, as with all country names. A person from Malawi is called a Malawian.

Common Mistakes

Malavia has a large lake.
Malawi has a large lake.
the country's name is Malawi, not Malavia.
malawi is in Africa.
Malawi is in Africa.
country names must be capitalised.

2. a landlocked republic in southeastern Africa whose eastern border is formed by L

2.nounB1
Definition

a landlocked republic in southeastern Africa whose eastern border is formed by Lake Malawi; it became independent from British rule in 1964 and its capital is Lilongwe

Example

Lake Malawi stretches over five hundred kilometres along the eastern side of the country.

proper noun + geographical feature: Lake Malawi

Lilongwe, the capital of Malawi, has grown steadily since the country gained independence.

appositive: the capital of Malawi

Usage Note

This sense provides geographic and historical detail. In everyday conversation the basic sense (COUNTRY IN AFRICA) is more common. Lake Malawi is the third-largest lake in Africa and contains more fish species than any other lake on the continent.

Word family

  • Malawian
    adjectiveB1
  • Malawian
    nounB1

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • the Republic of Malawi
  • the people of Malawi
  • the history of Malawi

Prepositions

Etymology

Maravi (Bantu)English

The name Malawi comes from the Maravi people, a Bantu ethnic group that settled in the region around the 13th century. The word 'Maravi' is thought to mean 'flames' in their language, possibly referring to the red glow of the sun as it sets over Lake Malawi. The country was called Nyasaland under British colonial rule and adopted the name Malawi when it became independent in 1964.