Côte d'Ivoire
Cote d'Ivoire in French is Côte d'Ivoire, the name of the country on the south coast of West Africa.
Côte d'Ivoire is the official name of the country, and French is its official language, so this is the name used locally as well.
What does it mean word for word?
The name literally means Ivory Coast.
How does it change in a sentence?
The country name usually takes the feminine article, as in la Côte d'Ivoire.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers sometimes use the English translation Ivory Coast in formal French contexts. The official name is Côte d'Ivoire, with a circumflex on the o.
Did you know?
- In 1985, the government of Côte d'Ivoire requested that the world stop translating its name into other languages and use the French version exclusively.
- While 'coast' in English refers to the land near the sea, the French word côte can also mean a 'rib' on a human skeleton.
- The circumflex accent on the ô in Côte d'Ivoire is a historical marker, signaling that an 's' used to exist in the word in Middle French.
Examples in context
- Je vais bientôt en Côte d'Ivoire.I am going to Côte d'Ivoire soon.
- Elle habite en Côte d'Ivoire.She lives in Côte d'Ivoire.
- La capitale de la Côte d'Ivoire est Yamoussoukro.The capital of Côte d'Ivoire is Yamoussoukro.
Example conversation
Emma and Hugo are discussing their future travel plans.
- EmmaOù veux-tu voyager l'année prochaine ?Where do you want to travel next year?
- HugoJe rêve d'aller en Côte d'Ivoire.I dream of going to Côte d'Ivoire.
- EmmaC'est une excellente idée, Hugo !That is an excellent idea, Hugo!
- HugoOui, j'ai hâte de visiter la Côte d'Ivoire.Yes, I can't wait to visit Côte d'Ivoire.
