Niger

Meaning

Proper Noun

Related

Broader meaning words

Origin

  • Commonly linked by folk etymology to Latin niger ("black"), which likely influenced the modern spelling.
  • Some sources give the term to Tuareg roots, deriving it from a claimed gher n-gheren or egereou n-igereouen.
  • Older sources derive Niger, via a series of mistranslations and geographic misplacements by Greek, Roman and Arab geographers, from Ptolemy's descriptions of the wadi Gir (in modern Algeria) and the "Lower Gir" (or "Ni-Gir") to the south.

Modern English dictionary

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