How is Niger actually pronounced?
If you mean the country in west Africa, roughly “knee-zh-air” (the official language is French). If you mean the river that the country is named after, if you speak English, you pronounce it roughly “nye-djer” with a schwa in the second syllable.
Why is Niger called Niger?
The country takes its name from the Niger River, which flows through the southwestern part of its territory. The name Niger derives in turn from the phrase gher n-gheren, meaning “river among rivers,” in the Tamashek language.
Is there a country in Africa called Niger?
Niger is one of the largest inland countries in West Africa and is historically a gateway between North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa. With two-thirds of the country lying within the Sahara Desert, it is one of the hottest countries in the world.
When did the pronunciation of Niger change?
Until 1960, Niger was a colony of France, and French is still Niger’s official language. Its neighbor Nigeria, with which it is occasionally confused, was under English control before it gained its independence, also in 1960; that’s why the pronunciations differ so sharply.