Paramaribo

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The capital and largest city of Suriname, a country on the northern coast of South America, known for its colonial-era wooden buildings
2. The principal city of Suriname in northern South America, situated on the Suriname River and famous for its historic Dutch-style architecture
3. A port city serving as the seat of government for Suriname, located near the Atlantic coast of the northeastern part of the South American continent

Etymology: Paramaribo, the capital of Suriname, takes its name from the local landscape rather than from its European founders. The name most likely derives from an Indigenous word for the site on the Suriname River, but its exact meaning is uncertain, and attempts to split it into smaller Amerindian elements remain unconfirmed. European settlers adopted the name and wrote it in Dutch orthography, which is why its spelling looks Dutch even though its root is not. Popular explanations that connect it to Dutch or Latin words do not survive scrutiny.